Elbow, wrist, and hand Flashcards
carpal bones
Proximal: lunate, scaphoid, triquetrum
Distal: trapezium, hamate, capitate, trapezoid, pisiform
Ulnar collateral ligament
- ulnar N: involvement is most commonly associated with UCL injury
- provides about 55% of stability in elbow extension and up to 75% in 90 degrees of flexion
TFCC triangularfibrocartilagenous complex
- disc provides smooth and conforming gliding surface
- disc allows flecion, extension, rotation, and translation motions
- disc cushions force
- connects otherwise incongruous surfaces
Flexor tendon zones: zone 5: wrist region things to be aware of
- muscle contractures occur quickly
- neurovascular injuries
Flexor tendon zones: zone 4: CT region things to be aware of
- other tendon injuries
- neurovascular injuries
- tendon adhesions
Flexor tendon zones: zone 3: palm region things to be aware of
- good prognosis
- intrinsic contractures
Flexor tendon zones: zone 2: MC heads, middle phalanx
- “no man’s land”, poor prognosis
- sheaths/pulleys may have adhesions
- poor blood supply
- both FDP and FDS severed
Flexor tendon zones: zone 1: distal digits things to be aware of
- good prognosis
- avulsion injuries
Lateral epicondylgia
- pain over lateral epicondyle with gripping activities and wrist extension, most common in ages 40-55 y/o.
Diagnosis for lateral epicondylgia
- localized pain over lateral epicondyle.
- Pain on palpation immediately distal to lateral epicondyle (1-5 cm).
- Pain reproduction with resisted wrist extension or resisted extension of middle digit.
Interventions for epicondylgia
- regional manual therapy
- exercise
- strength training
- nerve glides
- cervical and thoracic mobs/manips
- patient education
- ergonomics
- neuromuscular re-ed
- pain free grip strength is preferred outcome measure vs overall grip strength.
Ulnar collateral ligament strain of elbow
- clinical findings: pain with palpation of UCL, (+) valgus stress test, (+) moving valgus stress test
Posterolateral rotary instability
- a lack of stability of the radial collateral complex including the lateral or radial collateral ligament
- MOI: FOOSH injury, elbow dislocation
Clinical findings for posterolateral instability
- pain with palpation of LCL
- (+) posterolateral rotary instability (PRLI) test
- (+) internal rotation push up test
- (+) lift off test from chair
Elbow dislocation stage 1
- disruption of LCL, elbow begins to sublux in posterolateral direction
Elbow dislocation stage 2
- disruption of anterior capsule; coronoid process “perched” on trochlea
Elbow dislocation stage 3
- disruption of posterior and finally, UCL; elbow dislocates fully
Terrible triad with elbow dislocation
- Elbow dislocation, fractures of the coronoid process and radial heads
- complications include persistent instability, mal-union, osseous proximal radio-ulnar synostosis, non-union
Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injury
- disruption of the ulnar sided capsulo-ligamentous structure of the wrist by way of trauma or degeneration
- MOI: FOOSH with pronated, hyperextended wrist or distraction injury that pulls ulnar side of wrist
Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC)
- allows the corpus to rotate with the ulna around the radius during forearm rotation and is the primary stabilizer to the ulnar wrist
- vascular supply: inner portion avascular periphery vascular
TFCC injury presentation
- ulnar sided wrist pain
- pain with loaded, end-range wrist extension, wrist ulnar deviation, forearm supination/pronation
- arthroscopy is the gold standard for diagnosis
Non-operative treatment for TFCC is lacking…
- strap/wrist/widget, splint
Scapulolunate dissociation
- instability of the scapulolunate joint as a result of ligament elongation or ligament failure
- MOI: FOOSH injury (dorsiflexed wrist)
- related to keinbocks disease (avascular necrosis of lunate)
Clinical findings for scapulolunate dissociation
- TTP localized under ECRL tendon
- watson shift test
Elbow extension test for acute fracture
- patients who cannot fully extend their elbow after injury shoulder be referred to radiography as they have about a 50% chance of fracture
Elbow ossification sequence (CRITOE)
- Capitulum (6mo-2yrs)
- Radial head (4-7 yrs)
- Internal (medial) epicondyle
- Trochlea (7-10 yrs)
- Olecranon (6-12 yrs)
- External (lateral) epicondyle (10-14 yrs)
- Ossification usually complete by mid-teens
Night stick fracture
- fracture of the mid portion of the ulna usually occurs with falls with force through midshaft of ulna
Monteggia fracture
- fracture of the proximal ulna with dislocation of the ulnar head from the wrist
Greenstick fracture
- incomplete fracture due to flexibility of young bone
Galeazzi fracture
- fracture of the distal radius with dislocation of the ulnar head from the wrist
Colles fracture
- fracture of the distal radius with dorsal displacement