Differentials Flashcards
Causes of dorsal radial wrist pain
Extensor carpi radialis tenosynovitis, de quervains tenosynovitis, skid fracture, distal radius fracture
Causes of dorsal Central wrist pain
Posterior interosseus nerve/radial nerve entrapment, gangly incest, scapholunate ligament sprain
Causes of dorsal ulna wrist pain
Extensor carpi ulnaris tenosynovitis, TFCC tear, ulnar styloid fracture, triquetral fracture
Causes of volar radial wrist pain
Carpo-metacarpal OA
Causes of volar central wrist pain
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Causes of volar ulnar wrist pain
Thoracic outlets syndrome, ulnar nerve compression, hook of hamate fracture
Causes of thoracic pain
Intervertebral joint sprain, para spinal muscle strain, costotransverse joint sprain, Scheuermann’s disease (teens), postural imbalance of neck + shoulder
Rib stress #
Thoracic disc prolapse
T4 syndrome
Cardiac causes
Peptic ulcer
Shingles
Causes of chest pain in an athlete
Rib trauma, referred pain from thoracic spine, sternoclavicular joint disorders, side strain, costochondritis, cardiac, peptic ulcer, PE, reflux, shingles
Causes of buttock pain
Myofascial pain, referred from lumbar spine, proximal hamstring tendinopathy, SI joint dysfunction, piriformis syndrome, posterior thigh compartment syndrome, proximal hamstring tendon rupture, glute tendinopathy, ankylosing spondylitis, Spondyloarthropathy
Causes of anterior hip pain
Labral tear, OA, synovitis, ligament teres tear, groin related pain, stress fracture of neck of femur, traction apophysitis, avascular necrosis of femoral head, SCFE, Perthe’s dz, tumor
Causes of lateral hip pain
Glute tear, referred lumbar pain, bursitis, neck of femur #, nerve root compression
Causes of posterior hip pain
Posterior labral tear, referred pain, proximal hamstring issue, sciatica
causes of Groin pain
Adductor related, iliopsoas related, inguinal related, pubic related, hip related groin pain
Inguinal or femoral hernia
Nerve entrapment (obturator, ilioinguinal, genitofemoral), referred pain (lumbar, SI), apophysitis (ASIS, AIIS, pubic bone)
Stress #, SCFE, Perthe’s, AVN
UTI, STI, appendicitis, diverticulitis,
Testicular tumor
Causes of anterior thigh pain
Quadriceps, muscle contusion or strain, myositis ossificans, referred pain, nerve entrapment (lateral or femoral cutaneous), SCFE, Perthe’s, compartment syndrome
Causes of posterior thigh pain
Hamstring muscle strain or contusion, referred pain, tendinopathy of biceps femoris, compartment syndrome
Causes of Shoulder Pain
Rotator cuff pathology (strain, tear, tendinopathy)
GH instability
Biceps pathology (SLAP labral tears, biceps tendinopathy, tenosynovitis)
Posterior shoulder stiffness (GIRD)
Scapular pathology + dysfunction (AC + SC joint pathology, sprain, fracture, dislocation)
Pec major or long head of biceps tear
Adhesive capsulitis
Neurovascular entrapment (suprascapular, long thoracic, axillary, thoracic outlet syndrome)
Snapping scapula
C spine or T spine referred pain
Bony tumor proximal humerus
Visceral referred pain (diaphragm, gallbladder, heart, spleen)
Causes of lateral elbow pain
Extensor tendinopathy, referred pain from cervical or thoracic spine, synovitis of radio-humeral joint, posterior interosseous nerve entrapment, osteochondritis dissecans of capitellum or radius
Causes of medial elbow pain
Flexor tendinopathy, MCL sprain, ulna nerve compression, little leaguer’s elbow
Causes of posterior elbow pain
Olecranon bursitis
Triceps tendinopathy
Gout, pseudogout
RA, OA
Posterior impingement syndrome
Loose bodies/ osteophytes
Referred cervical pain
Causes of acute knee pain
Meniscus tear, MCL sprain, ACL sprain, articular cartilage injury, PCL sprain, patella dislocation, patella tendon rupture, quadriceps tendon rupture, bursitis, tibial plateau fracture, osteochondritis dissecans
Causes of immediate (0-2 hrs) knee swelling after injury
ACL rupture, patella dislocation, major chondral lesion, MCL sprain
Causes of delayed (6-24hrs) knee swelling after injury
Meniscus, smaller chondral lesion
Causes of anterior knee pain
Patellofemoral pain, patella tendinopathy, pre-patella bursitis, quadriceps tendinopathy, fat pad impingement, Osgood Schlatter, stress # patella, referred pain from hip, SCFE, osteochondritis dessicans, Perthe’s
Causes of lateral knee pain
IT band syndrome, lateral meniscus injury, patellofemoral syndrome, OA of lateral compartment, biceps femoris tendinopathy, posterolateral corner knee injury, synovitis, referred pain from lumbar, SCFE, Perthe’s
Causes of posterior knee pain
Knee joint effusion, bakers cyst, referred pain, biceps femoris tendinopathy, popliteus tendinopathy, DVT, claudication, PCL sprain
Causes of medial knee pain
Patellofemoral syndrome, medial meniscus injury, OA of medial compartment, pes anserine bursitis, MCL injury, referred pain from hip, SCFE, Perthe’s
Causes of shin pain
Bone stress reaction or stress fracture, medial tibial stress syndrome, chronic exertional compartments syndrome, pop artery entrapment, strain or tendinopathy
Causes of calf pain
Gastrocnemius, soleus or plantaris strain, DOMS, Chronic compartment syndrome, claudication, DVT, popliteal artery entrapment, bakers cyst, cramping
Causes of pain in Achilles region
Achilles tendinopathy, tibialis posterior tendinopathy, posterior ankle joint impingement, Achilles rupture, Sever’s disease
Acute ankle injuries
ATFL, CFL, PTFL sprain
Medial ligament injury, AITFL injury
Fracture of malleolus, tibial plafond, base of 5th, calcaneus, talus
Fracture dislocation
Syndesmosis injury
Causes of persistent ankle pain after injury
Fracture of calcaneus, talus, tibial plafond, base of 5th
Anterior or posterior impingement
Syndesmosis sprain
Medial ligament sprain
Complex regional pain syndrome
Peroneal tendon weakness/ rupture
Causes of medial ankle pain
Tibialis posterior tendinopathy, flexor hallucis longus tendinopathy, medial calcaneal nerve entrapment, tarsal tunnel syndrome, talar stress fracture, medial malleolar stress #, posterior impingement syndrome, navicular stress fracture, complex regional pain syndrome
Causes of lateral ankle pain
Peroneal tendinopathy, sinus tarsi syndrome, impingement syndrome, stress # of talus or distal fibula, complex regional pain syndrome
Causes of rear foot + inferior heel pain
Plantar fasciitis, fat pad contusion, calcaneal stress #, talar stress #, complex regional pain syndrome, medial calcaneal nerve entrapment
Causes of midfoot pain
Navicular stress fracture, mid tarsal joint sprain, Lisfranc sprain, tibialis posterior tendinopathy, cuneiform or cuboid stress fracture
Causes of forefoot pain
Stress fracture of metatarsal, MTP joint synovitis, 1st MTP joint sprain, bunion, Morton’s neuroma, corns, Freibergs, nail trauma or disease
What injuries can be caused by hyperextension of the knee?
Tibial plateau, meniscus
What injuries can be caused by a forceful blow inferior to knee
PCL
