Chapter 2 - Orthopedics (Part 1) Flashcards
Presentation of developmental dysplasia of the hip?
Family history
Uneven gluteal folds
Physical exam shows that hips can be easily dislocated posteriorly with a jerk and a “click” and returned to normal with a “snap”
If H&P are equivocal in the setting of suspected developmental dysplasia, what should be done?
Sonogram is diagnostic.
Why are x-rays useless in assessing developmental dysplasia of the hip?
The hip is not calcified in the newborn
Treatment of developmental dysplasia?
Abduction splinting with Pavlik harness for ~6 months
Hip pathology in children may present with hip pain or with ___ pain.
Knee
What is Legg-Calve-Perthes disease?
Avascular necrosis of the capital femoral epiphysis
Presentation of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease?
Occurs around age 6
Insidious development of limping, decreased hip motion, and hip/knee pain
Antalgic gait
Passive motion of hte hip is guarded
Dx Legg-Calve-Perthes disease?
AP and lateral hip X-rays
Rx Legg-Calve-Perthes disease?
Controversial; usually containing the femoral head within the acetabulum by casting and crutches
Presentation of slipped capital femoral epiphysis?
Typically a chubby or lanky boy around age 13
Groin or knee pain, noted to be limping
When they sit with the legs dangling, the sole of the foot on the affected side points toward the other foot
Limited hip motion
As the hip is flexed, the thigh goes into external rotation and cannot be rotated internally
Dx slipped capital femoral epiphysis?
X-rays
Rx slipped capital femoral epiphysis?
Orthopedic emergency
Pin the femoral head back into place
Presentation of septic hip in a child?
Little toddlers who have had a febrile illness and then refuse to move the hip
Hold the leg with the hip flexed in slight abduction and external rotation
Do not let anybody try to move it passively
Elevated ESR
Dx septic hip?
Aspiration of the hip under general anesthesia, further open drainage if pus is obtained
Presentation of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis in children?
Little kids who have had a febrile illness
Severe localized pain in a bone and no history of trauma to that bone
Dx acute hematogenous osteomyelitis?
MRI
X-rays will not show anything for a few weeks
Rx acute hematogenous osteomyelitis?
ABX
Genu varum (bowlegs) is normal up to age ___. Genu valgus (knock-knee) is normal betwen ages ___.
3; 4-8
Persistent varus beyond age is 3 is most commonly Blount disease - what is this?
Disturbance of the medial proximal tibial growth plate
What is Osgood-Schlatter disease?
Osteochondrosis of the tibial tubercle
Presentation of Osgood-Schlatter?
Teenagers
Persistent localized pain right over the tibial tubercle, aggravated by contraction of the quads
No knee swelling
Management of Osgood-Schlatter?
First responders use conservative management (rest, ic, compression, elevation)
If unsuccessful, refer to an orthopedic surgeon, who at most would use an extension or cylinder cast for 4-6 weeks
How does club foot (talipes equinovarus) appear?
Seen at birth
Both feet are turned inward with plantar flexion of the ankle, inversion of the foot, adduction of the forefoot, and internal rotation of the tibia
Management of club foot?
Serial plaster casts started in the neonatal period provide sequential correction starting with the adducted forefoot, then the hindfoot varus, and last the equinus
Often Achilles tenotomy and part-time, long-term use of braces are added
Those with club foot who do not respond to casting require surgery, typically done between what ages?
9 and 12 months
Scoliosis is seen primarily in what patient population and why?
Adolescent girls, whose thoracic spines are curved toward the right
Most sensitive screening finding for scoliosis?
Observe from behind while the patient bends forward - a hump will be noted over the right thorax
What is the natural history of scoliosis in a young woman?
Deformity progresses until skeletal maturity is reached (80% complete at the onset of menses)
Management of scoliosis?
Bracing to arrest progression
Surgery in severe cases
Degrees of angulation that would be unacceptable in the adult may be okay in children with fractures - why?
Remodeling occurs to an astonishing degree, healing process is much faster
In which areas do children have special problems with remodeling of fractures?
Supracondylar fractures of the humerus
Fractures of any bone that involve the growth plate
Cause of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children?
Hyperextension of the elbow in a child who falls on the hand, wtih the arm extended
Complications of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children?
Vascular or nerve injuries can easily occur
Could lead to Volkmann contracture
Management of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in chidlren?
Treat with the appropriate casting/traction (seldom need surgery)
Carefully monitor vascular and nerve integrity; monitor for compartment syndrome
Management of fractures that involve the growth plate in children?
Closed reduction if the eiphyses and growth plate are displaced laterally from the metaphysis but are in one piece (i.e., the fracture does not cross the epiphyses or growth plate and does not involve the joint)
If the growth plate is in 2 pieces, the very precise alignment provided by open reduction and internal fixation will be required. Otherwise, growth will occur unevenly, resulting in deformity of the extremity.
Presentation of primary malignant bone tumors?
Young people
Persistent low-grade pain, present for several months
Dx primary malignant bone tumors?
X-ray - invasion of the adjacent soft tissues, a “sunburst” pattern, periosteal “onion skinning”
What is the most common primary malignant bone tumor?
Osteogenic sarcoma
Osteogenic sarcoma is seen in ages ___, usually around the ___. A typical ___ pattern is seen on x-rays.
10-25; knee (lower femor or upper tibia); sunburst
What is the second most common primary malignant bone tumor?
Ewing sarcoma
Ewing sarcoma affects children ages ___ and it grows in the ___ (location). A typical ___ pattern is seen on X-rays.
5-15; diaphyses of long bones; onion skinning
Most malignant bone tumors in adults are metastatic from the ___ in women (___ lesions) and ___ in men (___ lesions).
Breast; lytic; Prostate; blastic
Presentation of malignant metastatic bone tumors in adults?
Localized pain (early finding) Some lytic lesions present with pathologic fracture out of proportion to the activity
Dx malignant metastatic bone tumors?
X-rays can be
CT better
MRI best
Presentation of multiple myeloma?
Old men with fatigue, anemia, and localized pain at specific places on several bones
Dx multiple myeloma?
X-rays (multiple punched-out lytic lesions)
Bence-jones protein in the urine
Abnormal Ig in the blood, best shown by serum immunoelectrophoresis
Rx multiple myeloma?
Chemo
Second-line - thalidomide
Natural history of soft tissue sarcomas?
Relentless growth over several months anywhere in the body
Firm, fixed to surrounding structures
Soft tissue sarcomas metastasize to the ___ but not to the ___.
Lungs; lymph nodes
Dx and Rx of soft tissue sarcomas?
MRI may help diagnose, but not specific type; incisional biopsy should be done by the expert who will do the Rx (includes very wide local excision, radiation, chemo)
X-rays for suspected fractures should always include what views?
2 views at 90 degrees to one another
Joints above and below the broken bones
If the mechanism of injury suggests it, other x-rays should be taken of the bones that are “in the line of force,” which might also be broken
As a general rule, broken bones that are not badly displaced or angulated or that can be satisfactorily aligned by external manipulation can be managed how?
Immobilized in a cast (closed reduction)
Broken bones that are severely displaced or angulated or that cannot be aligned easily require what management?
Surgical intervention to reduce and fix the fracture (open reduction and internal fixation)
Clavicular fractures are typically located where?
Junction of middle and distal thirds
What is the traditional treatment of clavicular fracture? Other options?
Figure-of-eight device that aligns the bone by pulling back on both shoulders; sling is more comfortable and works well
If a precise outcome is desired for cosmetic reasons, open reduction and internal fixation can be done