FINAL msk Flashcards
What does a tendon do?
Connects muscle to bone
What are common sites of tendonitis?
Supraspinatus tendinitis of shoulder (rotator cuff)
Lateral and medial epicondylitis (tennis and golfer’s elbow)
Bicipital tendinitis
Gluteus medius/minimus tendinopathy
Achilles tendinopathy
Flexor carpi radialis and flexor carpi ulnaris tendinopathy
What are common causes of tendonitis/tendinopathies?
Overuse or sports injury
Inflammatory rheumatic disease
Metabolic disturbances such as calcium apatite deposition
Less common: use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics and statins
What are common symptoms of tendonitis/tendinopathies?
Local pain and dysfunction, inflammation and degeneration
Matching:
- Lateral Epicondylitis
- Medial Epicondylitis
A. Tennis elbow
B. Golfer’s elbow
Lateral = Tennis elbow
Medial = golfer’s elbow
What are risk factors for lateral and medial epicondylitis?
Activities involving repeated movements of the forearm, wrist, and fingers
Improper techniques doing certain movements
Improper equipment for work, daily activities, sports
Age – most common in 40s
History of tendon injury
Addition risks for Medial: sports that require repetitive valgus and flexion at the elbow (ex. golfers, tennis players, swimmers, pitchers, and javelin throwers), repetitive occupational tasks such as lifting and passing heavy objects
Lateral Epicondylitis is due to damage to the tendons of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) and forearm extensor muscles, while medial epicondylitis relates to the tendons of pronator teres & flexor carpi radialis muscles. Explain the patho of what happens to these tendons
Caused by irritation and overstretching (using a repeated twisting motion) resulting in tissue degradation, loss of grip strength and pain
Forces cause microscopic tears in tissue
Initial inflammatory changes cause thickening of the tendon sheath, limiting movement and causing pain
Recurring microtears lead to remodeling/fibrosis
What is the time course of Epicondylitis?
Often begins gradually
Initially pain may only last 24 hours post-activity. As condition progresses, pain stays longer, becomes persistent without movement
Mild pain may improve in 6-8 weeks
Prolonged cases may improve in 6-12 months, in some cases pain lasts more than 2 years
What are signs and symptoms of Lateral Epicondylitis
Pain usually in dominant arm
Affects outside of elbow
Pain with both passive and resisted wrist extension with elbow extended
Pain increases when lateral area is pressed or when grasping or twisting objects
Elbow stiffness in the morning
Pain in other parts of body (shoulder, neck) as these areas try to compensate
What are signs and symptoms of Medial Epicondylitis
Affects the inside of the elbow
Pain with both passive and resisted wrist flexion with elbow in full extension
Pain occurs on the ulnar side of the forearm, the wrist and occasionally the fingers
Stiffness of the elbow, weakness in the hand and the wrist and a numb or tingling feeling in the fingers (mostly ring and little finger)
Local tenderness over medial epicondyle and the conjoined tendon of the flexor group
What could be informs the diagnosis of Epicondylitis?
Patient’s History (job, activities, onset of pain, location etc)
Physical Exam: location of tenderness)
X-ray to rule out other injuries
Golfers Elbow Test (passive and active)
What would be helpful for patient teaching in Epicondylitis?
resting the elbow
applying ice or heat several times a day for 1-2 weeks
Stopping or changing activities that irritate tendon (also important for prevention)
What are some possible treatments for Epicondylitis?
NSAIDs (topical or oral) for pain control
Physio to strengthen and increase flexibility, change of movements
Counterforce brace
If condition gets worse consider: Corticosteroid injection, Surgery (not done often)
De Quervain Tenosynovitis/Tendinopathy is another tendinopathy explored in this course, which muscles are involved in this case?
Affects the abductor pollcis longus (APL) and the extensor pollcis brevis (EPB) tendons.
Two of the main tendons to the thumb that assist with bringing the thumb out away from the index finger (APL) and straightening the joints of the thumb (EPB).
These two tendons arise from muscles in the forearm and then run together in a sheath that keeps them close to the bone as they cross over from the thumb side of the wrist into the hand.
Any swelling of the tendons (De Quervain’s ) and/or thickening of the sheath can result in a situation where the tendons no longer fit well inside the sheath.
What are the signs and symptoms of De Quervain tendinopathy?
pain and tenderness along the thumb side of the wrist.
This is particularly noticeable when: Moving the thumb, forming a fist, grasping or gripping something, turning the wrist, Lifting something with arms in front of you and thumbs pointed toward the ceiling (e.g., lifting a child)
May hear a funny sound like a squeak, crackle, snap, or creak when moving the wrist or thumb.
bottom of the thumb or the side of the wrist might also be sore or swollen. This can make it hard to move thumb or wrist.
back of the thumb and index finger may feel numb.
Sometimes can cause a small bump on the thumb side of the wrist. Without treatment, the pain can spread up forearm or down into thumb
What is the test used to help diagnose De Quervain tendinopathy
Finkelstein test - make a fist with thumb inside. Then bend wrist outward toward your little finger. If pain on the thumb side of wrist, then most likely have de Quervain’s.
Outline non-pharm treatment of De Quervain tendinopathy
Goal of treatment is to relieve the pain and swelling in thumb and wrist, and restore normal function:
Avoid moving the hand and wrist.
Until symptoms are better, stop the activities that caused the pain.
Keep wrist in a straight line with your arm by using a splint to keep thumb and wrist from moving.
Ice or heat
Gentle stretching exercises once symptoms are gone.
May need to see a physiotherapist or occupational therapist to help learn how to use wrist differently.
Outline pharm treatment of De Quervain tendinopathy
NSAIDs either topically or orally.
Acetaminophen
Possible corticosteroid shot, injected into wrist area and the bottom of thumb.
Within 3 weeks of having a steroid shot, most people can use the wrist and thumb again for normal activities. Most people feel better after just one shot, but might need another shot after 4 to 6 weeks. No more than 3 shots are used.
How often is surgical intervention needed for De Quervain tendinopathy?
Not very often, up to 80% of patients respond to non-surgical treatment
Which population are proximal humeral fractures most likely in?
Surgical neck fractures of the humerus are common in older people with FOOSH injuries
Humeral mid shaft fractures are caused by direct trauma and can damage which nerve?
Radial
Describe the most common types of proximal radius fracture
Radial head- more common in adults
Radial neck- more common in children
Can result from FOOSH or direct blow to elbow
Describe the signs and symptoms of a radial head fracture
Recall- proximal radius fracture caused by FOOSH (pushes radius into humerus) or direct trauma to elbow
S&S: pain, swelling, tenderness over lateral elbow; decreased elbow ROM; joint tenderness of radial head
Your patient suffers a direct blow to their forearm, causing fracture of the ulna. What is a common injury that co- occurs with this
Fracture of ulna often occurs with dislocation of the proximal radioulnar joint. This is called a Monteggia fracture
What nerve can a Monteggia fracture injure?
Monteggia fracture= fracture of ulnar + dislocation of proximal radio ulnar joint
Puts the radial nerve at risk
What is the most common type of forearm fracture?
Colles’ fracture accounts for 80% of forearm fractures.
What is a Colles fracture
Fracture of distal radius
Most often caused by FOOSH
Extension/ compression fracture of distal radius
Causes dorsal, proximal displacement of the distal fragment (dinner fork appearance- from side view, wrist is lower than hand) and radial deviation of hand
Describe the dinner fork appearance of a Colles fracture
Distal fragment is proximally and dorsally displaced
What is a Smith fracture?
Fracture of distal radius
Most often caused by fall on flexed hand
Results in ventral, proximal displacement of distal fragment (from side view, wrist is higher than hand)
What are signs and symptoms of a distal radius fracture?
Colles- dinner fork (dorsal proximal displacement of distal fragment)
Smoth- ventral proximal displacement of distal fragment
Both: pain of wrist, edema, deformity, bruising, discoloration, aching pain at rest, worsened by movement
What nerve is most vulnerable in elbow dislocation
Ulnar