General Approach Flashcards
What should you never fail to do?
exam the area of patient complaint
what can happen if a diagnostic error is made?
many times, it is inconsequential
others can result in substantial harm
ROWS
rule out worst case senarios
differential dx
process that involves the use of clinical signs and symptoms, physical exam, a knowledge of pathology and mechanisms of injury, provocative and motion tests, palpation, labratory and diagnostic imaging
common conditions of bone
tumors (primary or metastatic) osteochondrosis/apophysitis fracture osteopenia/osteoporosis osteomyelitis congenital anomalies and variants
common conditions of soft tissue and musccle
strain or rupture trigger points atrophy myositis ossificans muscular dystrophy rhabdomyositis
tendinitis
inflammation
tendonosis
intra-tendon degeneration
paratendonitis
inflammed paratendon
common ligament conditions
sprain or rupture
common bursa conditions
bursitis
common fascial conditions
myofascitis
common joint conditions
arthritis
subluxation/fixation
joint mice
dislocation/subluxation
what should you rule out with acute traumatic pain?
fracture
dislocation
instability
neutral, vasculara injury
what should you rule out with nontraumatic pain?
tumors
inflammatory arthridities
infections
visceral referral
how do you clarify the type of complaint?
is there trauma?
is there a history of overuse?
is the onset insidious?
what should you ask if the injury was traumatic?
what was the mechanism of injury
what should you ask if the injury is overuse?
what is the repetitive motion and what is the positional status of the patient
what should you ask if the injury is insidious?
is there fever, lymphadenopathy, multiple areas affected, local signs of inflammation, deformity, associated weakness, numbness, tingining, neurologic dysfunction?
18 questions
when did it start? gradual or sudden? anything cause or contribute to it? ever had this before? point to area of complaint? does it radiate/travel? symptoms in other parts of the body? how would you rate the pain? is it costant, come and go? getting better, worse, staying the same anything that makes it better? anything that makes it worse? any change in bodily functions? affected daily activities? tried store bought or at home remedies? seen anyone else for this? anything else you want me to know?
evaluation
always examine area of complaint visualization palpation AROM, PROM, resisted ROM orthopedic and neurologic exam radiographs specialized imaging labs manage, co-manage, emergent referal
orthopedic exams are to?
reproduce complaints
reveal laxity
demonstrate weakness
demonstrate restriction
what questions should you ask if you want to do radiographs?
are there red flags
is patient high or low risk?
combine history, clinical presentation
if someone has had pain for more than 6 weeks, what are the ddx?
tumor, infection, rheumatologic disorder
if someone is less than 18, what are the ddx of low back pain?
congenital defect, tumor, infection, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis
if someone is above 50, what are the ddx of LBP?
tumor, intra abdominal process, infection
if there is major trauma, or minor trauma in elderly, what is usually the cause?
fracture
recent genitourinary or gastrointestingal procedure usually indicates?
infection
night pain usually indicates what DDX?
tumor, infection
unremitting pain, even when supine indicates what ddx?
tumor, infection, AAA, nephrolithiasis
pain worsened by coughing, sitting or valsalva maneuver indicades what ddx?
herniated disc
pain related below knee indicates what?
herniated disc, NR compression below L3