Differential Diagnosis of the Musculoskeletal System

Question 1

Burning or aching in heel, pain with activity, swelling, thickening in tendon, morning stiffness, weakness due to pain

Answer 1

Achilles Tendonitis

Question 2

Pop, click, giving way/buckling

Answer 2

ACL Sprain

Question 3

Acute: pain below elbow, can’t sleep due to pain, muscle guarding.

Chronic: pain in brachial region, not awakened by pain, capsular stiffness

Answer 3

Adhesive Capsulitis

Question 4

Slouched posture, morning stiffness, back pain for at least 3 months

Answer 4

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Question 5

Cylinder/Sausage-like limbs

Answer 5

Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita

Question 6

Fever, red, edema, pain, warm, tender, swollen glands, chills

Answer 6

Cellulitis

Question 7

Weakness and paresthesia in lower extremity progressing to upper extremity

Answer 7

Charcot-Marie Tooth Disease

Question 8

“Dinner fork” deformity, can compress median nerve if excessive edema

Answer 8

Colle’s Fracture

Question 9

Asymmetrical hip abduction with tightness and femoral shortening of involved side

Answer 9

Congenital Hip Dysplasia

Question 10

SB to same side as contracture, rotation to opposite side; facial asymmetries

Answer 10

Congenital Torticollis

Question 11

No fever, red, edema, pain, itchy, open sores

Answer 11

Dermatitis

Question 12

Gowers maneuver, pseudohypertrophy of calf, proximal muscle weakness, inability to ambulate by 10

Answer 12

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Question 13

Mild pain deep within the shoulder, pain with overhead activities, painful arc (70-120), TTP of bicipital groove & greater trochanter

Answer 13

Impingement Syndrome

Question 14

<16 years old, painful/stiff joints; Systemic, Polyarticular, or Oligoarticular / Pauciarticulara

Answer 14

JRA

Question 15

Pain anterior/distal to lateral epicondyle that worsens with repetition and resisted wrist extension

Answer 15

Lateral Epicondylitis

Question 16

Antalgic gait, positive Trendelenburg sign

Answer 16

Legg-Calve Perthes Disease

Question 17

Pain, swelling, antalgic gait, decreased ROM, feeling of instability

Answer 17

MCL Sprain

Question 18

Joint locking, catching, popping, buckling, pain, swelling

Answer 18

Meniscus Tear

Question 19

Taut palpable band of muscle that may (active) or may not (latent) be tender; trigger points

Answer 19

Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Question 20

Stiffness in hands and weight bearing joints, nodes, pain after exercise, enlarged joints

Answer 20

Osteoarthritis (OA)

Question 21

Point tenderness over the patella tendon at tibial tubercle, antalgic gait, pain with increased activity

Answer 21

Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Question 22

Anterior knee pain, pain with prolonged sitting, swelling, crepitus, pain with stairs

Answer 22

Patellofemoral Syndrome

Question 23

May be asymptomatic, swelling, mild pain, feeling of femur sliding off the tibia

Answer 23

PCL Sprain

Question 24

TTP at insertion, heel spur, pain is worse in morning or after periods of prolonged inactivity, difficulty with prolonged standing, pain when walking in bare feet

Answer 24

Plantar Fasciitis

Question 25

Arm positioned in internal rotation and adduction, TTP greater tubercle and acromion, tone in anterior shoulder structures; limited shoulder flex and abduction

Answer 25

Rotator Cuff Tear

Question 26

Groin pain, thigh/knee pain, waddling gait, lower range of motion

Answer 26

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis

Question 27

Adduction of forefoot, hind foot varus, equinus at ankle

Answer 27

Talipes Equinovarus

Question 28

Pain with opening jaw, click

Answer 28

TMJ Dysfunction

Question 29

Proximal symmetrical muscle weakness, face rash, Gottron papules (circles of red rash over MCP, PIP, and DIP)

Answer 29

Dermatomyositis

Question 30

Abnormal scar and wound healing, fragile thin blood vessels; soft, stretchy skin that bruises easily, overly flexible joints

Answer 30

Ehler Danlos Syndrome

Question 31

People who are tall, thin, loose jointed, flat feet, scoliosis; weak aorta, leaking heart valves

Answer 31

Marfan Syndrome

Question 32

Pathological fractures, brittle bones, hypermobility, bowing of long bones, weakness, scoliosis, decreased respiratory function

Answer 32

Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Question 33

Calcium deposits in skin, Raynaud’s, red spots on hand/face; swelling of esophagus

Answer 33

Scleroderma

Question 34

Red butterfly rash on face, easily fatigued, worse w/ stress, arthralgia, malaise

Answer 34

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus