Common upper limb conditions Flashcards

1
Q

What is subacromial impingement syndrome?

A

A painful condition of the shoulder involving narrowing of the subacromial space
Can be primary or secondary

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2
Q

What is primary subacromial impingement?

A

Structural abnormalities
(bone spurs, bursal swelling)

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3
Q

What is secondary subcromial impingement?

A

Functional deficits
(rotator cuff weakness, instability, scapular dyskinesis)

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4
Q

What is the most common gender and age for subacromial impingement?

A

M>F 2:1
25-40 years

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5
Q

What is the aetiology of subacromial impingement?

A

Intrinsic, extrinsic and combined factors
Rotator cuff or biceps pathology
Scapular dyskinesis
Shoulder instability
SLAP lesions
Capsular restriction
Thoracic posture and hypomobility

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6
Q

What are the risk factors of subacromial impingement?

A

Intrinsic
Tendon histology
Age
Genetics

Extrinsic
Muscle extensibility
Anatomical osseous
GH joint kinematics
Posture/ergonomics

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7
Q

What is the pathophysiology of subacromial impingement?

A

Chronic repetitive process in which the conjoint tendon of the rotator cuff undergoes repetitive compression and micro trauma as it passes under the coracoacromial arch

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8
Q

What is the onset of subacromial impingement?

A

Acute or insidious

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9
Q

What are the clinical features of subacromial impingement?

A

Typically diffuse
Usually in ant/sup/lat aspect of shoulder
Worse with overhead movements, lifting and reaching, sleeping on affected shoulder
Pain often radiates to the elbow or neck
Painful arc (between 70-120 degrees)

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10
Q

What are the ROM and findings with subacromial impingement?

A

ROM:
Limited
Pain &/or capsular restriction
Findings:
Muscle weakness
Scapular dyskinesis
Thoracic spine dysfunction

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11
Q

What is rotator cuff tendinopathy?

A

Inflammation of the tendons of the rotator cuff muscles

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12
Q

What is the aetiology of rotator cuff tendinopathy?

A

Occur secondary to direct trauma
Poor throwing mechanics
Extrinsic compression
Intrinsic mechanisms
Vascular changes
Due to age related changes
Age, sex, genetics
Collagen disorientation and myxoid degeneration

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13
Q

What is the pathophysiology of rotator cuff tendinopathy?

A

Repetitive rotator cuff injury triggers a recurrent pathological cycle that results in acute on chronic tendonitis
Combination of extrinsic impingement from structures surrounding he cuff and intrinsic degeneration from changes within the tendon itself

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14
Q

What is the onset of rotator cuff tendinopathy?

A

Insidious
Can predispose complete/partial tears which present acute pain

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15
Q

What are the clinical features of rotator cuff tendinopathy?

A

Pain:
With overhead activities
Painful arc on abduction 70-120 degrees
Sleeping on affected side
Referred pain into the arm, chest wall or neck
ROM:
Reduced

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16
Q

What are the clinical findings with rotator cuff tendinopathy?

A

Reduced ROM
Muscle weakness
Scapular dyskinesis
Thoracic spine dysfunction
Tenderness over RC tendons and insertions
Positive impingement, muscle specific, and reactive resisted testing

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17
Q

What is bicep tendinopathy?

A

Inflammation or degeneration of the long head of biceps tendon

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18
Q

What is the most common gender and age for biceps tendinopathy?

A

M>F 2:1
20-30 years

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19
Q

What is the aetiology of biceps tendinopathy?

A

Repetitive overhead activities
Overuse
Direct trauma

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20
Q

What are the risk factors for biceps tendinopathy?

A

Athletes in sport likes tennis, swimming, or baseball
Older age
Poor shoulder mechanics

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21
Q

What is the pathoanatomy of biceps tendinopathy?

A

Inflammation, microtears, or degeneration in the biceps tendon
Particularly where it travels through the bicipital groove

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22
Q

What is the pathophysiology of biceps tendinopathy?

A

Repeated stress or trauma leads to inflammation followed by degenerative changes in the tendon, resulting in pain and functional impairment

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23
Q

What are the clinical features of biceps tendinopathy?

A

Anterior shoulder pain, especially with overhead movements
Tenderness in bicipital groove
Pain on resisted shoulder flexion
Becomes sharp with certain movements (shoulder flexion, forearm supination)
Typical pattern of radiation: down towards elbow
Muscle weakness
+/- localised swelling, morning stiffness, palpable crepitation
Positive biceps pathology tests

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24
Q

What are the aggravating factors of biceps tendinopathy?

A

Overhead and repetitive activities, reaching, pulling and lifting, sleeping on the affected side

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25
Q

What is an acromioclavicular joint sprain?

A

Injury to AC joint ligaments

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26
Q

What gender and age are most common for AC sprains?

A

M>F 5:1
15-25 years

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27
Q

What is the aetiology of AC joint sprains?

A

Direct trauma to the shoulder, such as fall on shoulder or direct blow

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28
Q

What are the risk factors for AC joint sprains?

A

Contact sports
Falls
Accidents

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29
Q

What is the pathoanatomy of AC sprains?

A

Damage to the AC and CC ligaments, potentially leading to joint instability

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30
Q

What is the pathophysiology of AC joint sprains?

A

Mechanical: repetitive overload causes degeneration and inflammation
Neurogenic: neural mechanisms mediate a response to repetitive load
Apoptosis: cell death and remodelling augmented by repetitive strain
Vascular: vascular disruption leading to tendon degeneration

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31
Q

What are the clinical features of AC sprains?

A

Pain over AC joint
Localised pain over AC joint; worse with movement (horizontal flexion)
Palpable tenderness
+/- step deformity
+/- swelling, bruising, soft tissue injury

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32
Q

What can recurrent injuries to the AC joint cause?

A

Predispose OA

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33
Q

What are the classifications of AC sprains?

A
  1. Sprain of joint capsule
  2. Complete tear of AC ligaments with sprain of CC ligaments
    3-5. Complete tears of the AC and CC ligaments
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34
Q

What are glenoid labral tears?

A

Can be either referred to as SLAP or non-SLAP lesions

35
Q

What does SLAP refer to?

A

Superior labrum anterior to posterior

36
Q

What is the most common gender and age for labral tears?

A

M>F 5:1
20-40 years

37
Q

What are the risk factors for glenoid labral tears?

A

Trauma and instability
Repetitive stress (throwing, swimming)
Direct trauma (dislocation, subluxation, direct blow to shoulder, FOOSH, overhead activity)
Instability can result in labral tear

38
Q

What is the pathophysiology of SLAP glenoid labral tears?

A

Types of glenoid labrum lesions
SLAP more common – tearing superior labrum anterior posterior

39
Q

What are the types of SLAP lesions?

A
  1. Fraying of the labrum, but biceps anchor is intact
  2. Tear of superior labrum that results in instability of biceps anchor (most common)
  3. Bucket-handle tear of the superior labrum
  4. Bucket-handle tear that expands into biceps tendon
40
Q

What is the pathophysiology of Non-SLAP lesions?

A

Degenerative

41
Q

What are GLAD lesions?

A

Tear of anti-inf. Labrum and adjacent articular cartilage
Forced adduction injury when arm in ABD and ER

42
Q

What are Bankart Lesions?

A

Damage to ant-inf labrum with # of glenoid rim
Usually associated with anterior shoulder dislocation

43
Q

What are the clinical features of glenoid labral tears?

A

Potential clue in history: mechanism
Pain is usually localised to posterior or posterosuperior joint line
Worse with abduction, overhead movements and behind-the-back arm motions
+/- popping, catching or grinding
Palpable tenderness over anterior aspect of shoulder
Pain on active resisted testing of biceps
Several tests for labral pathology exist

44
Q

What is adhesive capsulitis?

A

Frozen shoulder is an idiopathic condition characterised by stiffness and pain in the shoulder due to the thickening and tightening of the joint capsule

45
Q

What is the most common gender and age for adhesive capsulitis?

A

F>M 2:1
40-60 years

46
Q

What are the risk factors for adhesive capsulitis?

A

Over 40
Prolonged immobility of the shoulder increases risk of developing frozen shoulder
Systemic diseases (diabetes, hyperthyroidism)
Prior trauma

47
Q

What is the pathophysiology of adhesive capsulitis?

A

Hyperplastic fibroplasia and excessive type III collagen secretion that leads to soft tissue contractures of GH joint capsule
Loss of synovial membrane and decreased capsular volume
Stiffened and thick CHL ligament

48
Q

What are the mechanisms of adhesive capsulitis?

A

Inflammation:
Elevated inflammatory cytokines (interleukins, TNF-a, COX)
Fibrosis:
Dysregulation of collagen-degrading enzymes
Excessive collagen formation compared to breakdown

49
Q

What are the 3 stages of adhesive capsulitis?

A
  1. Painful: shoulder pain occurs with movement and ROM starts to become limited
  2. Frozen: shoulder pain occurs with movement and
  3. Thawing: shoulder ROM begins to improve and return to normal
50
Q

How long does it take for adhesive capsulitis to resolve?

A

Typically within 1-3 years

51
Q

What is lateral epicondylitis?

A

Tennis elbow
Pain on the outside of the elbow due to tendinosis and periostitis, often affecting the common extensor tendon

52
Q

What are the affected muscles of lateral epicondylitis?

A

Extensor carpi radialis brevis primarily
Extensor digitorum and extensor carpi ulnaris

53
Q

What is the aetiology of lateral epicondylitis?

A

Overuse that leads to damage in the common extensor tendon
Particularly the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB)
Inflammation leads to microtears in the tendon followed by fibrosis

54
Q

What are the risk factors of lateral epicondylitis?

A

Repetitive microtrauma or overuse involving wrist extension and alternating supination/pronation
Specific activies: tennis, typing, gardening, video games, certain occupations
Handling tools heavier than 1kg, lifting loads heavier than 20kg at least 10 times per day and repetitive movements for more than 2 hours per day

55
Q

What is the pathoanatomy of lateral epicondylitis?

A

Microtears and inflammation occur in extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon
Less commonly, the condition may affect the extensor digitorum or extensor carpi ulnaris

56
Q

What is the pathophysiology of lateral epicondylitis?

A

Overuse leads to inflammation, resulting in microtears and subsequent fibrosis in affected tendons

57
Q

What are the clinical features of lateral epicondylitis?

A

Lateral elbow pain following activity without direct trauma
Difficulty gripping objects or weak grip strength
Tenderness localised just distal and anterior to lateral epicondyle
Pain with resisted wrist extension and wrist flexion (stretch of ECRB)

58
Q

What tests would be positive with lateral epicondylitis?

A

Maudsley’s and cozen’s

59
Q

What are the clinical FINDINGS of lateral epicondylitis?

A

Decreased joint play in elbow joint dysfunction of lower Cx and upper Tx spine (tenderness and decreased ROM)
Active trigger points in periscapular soft tissues

60
Q

What is medial epicondylitis?

A

Golfer’s elbow
Pain on the inside of the elbow due to tendinosis and periotitis affecting common flexor tendon

61
Q

What muscle is primarily affected by medial epicondylitis?

A

Pronator teres

62
Q

What are the risk factors for medial epicondylitis?

A

Repetitive work or sports
Athletes who throw overhand (golf, baseball, racquet sports)
Factory workers
Manual labourers
Office workers
Handling heavier than 5kg frequently
High hand grip forces
Working with vibrating tools for extended periods

63
Q

What is the pathophysiology of medial epicondylitis?

A

Repetitive use of flexor and pronator forearm muscles can cause microtraumas, inflammation and possibly micro-tears where the common flexor tendon of the forearm attaches
Histologically: damage to involved tendons is described as Angio fibroblastic hyperplasia, tendinosis and fibrillary degeneration of collagen

64
Q

What are the clinical features of medial epicondylitis?

A

Medial elbow pain following activity without direct trauma to the elbow
Pain typically worse with wrist flexion, forearm pronation, gripping activities
Some patients may experience occasional tingling or numbness radiating into their fourth and fifth fingers (suggests ulnar nerve involvement)

65
Q

What are the clinical FINDINGS of medial epicondylitis?

A

Palpable tenderness and tightness of muscle

Decreased joint play in elbow joint dysfunction of lower Cx and upper Tx spine (tenderness and decreased ROM)
Active trigger points in periscapular soft tissues

66
Q

What is De Quervain’s tenosynovitis?

A

Inflammation of the synovium surrounding the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons

67
Q

What is the common age and gender of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis?

A

F>M
30-50 years

68
Q

What is the aetiology of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis?

A

Irritation or inflammation of the tendons in the dorsal compartment of the wrist
Due to repetitive or excessive thumb use causing friction and swelling in tendon sheath

69
Q

What are the risk factors of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis?

A

Repetitive hand and thumb movements
Texting, typing, gaming, lifting
Pregnancy and post partum period
Middle age
Gender
Inflammatory conditions
Direct trauma

70
Q

What is the pathoanatomy of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis?

A

Tendons involved
Abductor pollicis brevis and extensor pollicis brevis

Anatomical constriction
Tendons pass through a fibro-osseous tunnel (extensor retinaculum) at the radial styloid, where swelling or thickening of the tendon sheath can lead to constriction and increased friction

71
Q

What is the pathophysiology of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis?

A

Repetitive motion injury
Inflammation and thickening
Pain and limited motion

72
Q

What are the clinical features of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis?

A

Localised wrist pain
*Can radiate along course of tendons
Palpable tenderness
+/- swelling, crepitus
Positive irthopaedic tests

73
Q

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

A

A condition caused by compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist

74
Q

What are the contributing factors to carpal tunnel?

A

Oedema
Tendon inflammation
Hormonal changes
Manual activity

75
Q

What are the risk factors for carpal tunnel?

A

Diabetes
-Nerve damage can cause peripheral neuropathy
Obesity
-Increased fat deposition narrows the canal
Menopause
-Hormonal changes and tissue elasticity changes
Pregnancy
-Fluid retention and increased blood volume
Hypothyroidism
-Myxedema; accumulation of mucopolysaccharides causing swelling
Wrist arthritis
-Joint inflammation and bone spurs

76
Q

What are the clinical features of carpal tunnel?

A

Paraesthesia and dysthesias: usually begin as intermittent and nocturnal but may become more frequent and diurnal
Sensation may be spared over the palm and thenar eminence due to the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve
Burning pain may not always be present but can occur and may radiate to the forearm, elbow or shoulder
Chronicity can lead to axonal degeneration, resulting in weakness and thenar muscle atrophy

77
Q

What is wrist and hand OA?

A

Progressive degeneration of joint cartilage and underlying bone

78
Q

What is the pathoanatomy of wrist and hand OA?

A

Involves multiple joints including IP and CMC

79
Q

What is the pathophysiology of wrist and hand OA?

A

Biomechanical factors
Inflammatory factors
-Proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines identified in OA synovial fluid
-Include interleukins, TNFa from lymphocytes and macrophages
-Adipocytokines also implicated
Enzymatic factors
-Upregulation of genes responsible for cartilage enzymes
-Drives degradation of articular cartilage

80
Q

What are the clinical features of wrist and hand OA?

A

Pain aggravated by joint use and relieved by rest
Stiffness and reduced ROM
Decreased grip/pinch strength
Inflammation which may cause redness, warmth, joint effusion, soft tissue swelling
Deformity: Heberden nodes (distal IP joints), bouchard nodes (proximal IP joints) and squaring of the thumb base
Crepitus

81
Q

What are FOOSH injuries?

A

Injuries relating to a fall on outstretched hand which can include scaphoid fractures, carpal ligament damage and instability, distal radius fractures, elbow medial collateral ligament sprain, labral tear and posterior shoulder dislocation

82
Q

What are the clinical features of FOOSH injuries?

A

Scaphoid fracture:
Most common carpal injured
Complications can occur on their own or in combination
Avascular necrosis (through waist can disrupt proximal pole)
Delayed union or non-union

83
Q

What are the clinical findings of FOOSH?

A

Tenderness in anatomixal snuffbox
Pain with axial compression of thumb, radial deviation
+/- swelling; loss of grip strength