Differential Diagnosis Flashcards
Musculoskeletal disorders
Injuries or disorders of nerves, tendons, muscles, joints and supporting structures of the upper and lower limbs, neck, and lower back
Differential diagnosis
Used to differentiate one or more conditions
Which side of body should you test first?
Assess normal side first
Assess painful side last
What does it mean if the person uses their whole hand to point out the pain?
Pain is diffuse
What does it mean if a patient uses a moving hand to point out their pain?
Pain is spreading or radiating
Periarticular diagnoses
Calcific tendonitis
Adhesive capsulitis
Bicipital tendonitis
Lesions of musculotendinous cuff
Articular diagnoses
Inflammatory lesions/autoimmune diseases
Osteoarthritis
Arthritis (traumatic or infectious)
Neoplasms (ganglion cysts, lipoma, giant cell tumor)
Extrinsic lesions
Neurological disorders
Neurovascular syndromes (thoracic outlet syndrome, brachial plexopathy)
Reflex neurovascular syndrome (complex regional pain syndrome, Sudeck’s atrophy)
Differential diagnosis for shoulder pain
Tendinitis
Bursitis
Bicipital tenosynovitis
Rotator cuff injuries
Adhesive capsulitis
Symptoms of acromioclavicular arthritis
Superior shoulder pain
Acromioclavicular joint tenderness
Painful cross-body adduction test
Adhesive capsulitis symptoms
Associated with diabetes and thyroid disorders
Diffuse shoulder pain
Restricted passive range of motion on examination
Common elbow problems
Cubital tunnel syndrome
Lateral epicondylitis
Joint replacement
Medial epicondylitis
Osteoarthritis
Olecranon bursitis
Radial tunnel syndrome
Common wrist problems
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
Ganglionic cyst
Intersection syndrome
Osteoarthrtis
Scaphoid fractures
Wrist fusion
Wrist joint replacement
Common hand problems
Arthritis of the finger/thumb joints
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Dupuytren’s contracture
Guyon’s canal syndrome
Joint replacement
Mallet finger injuries
Trigger finger/thumb
Ulnar collateral ligament injuries
