Hip pain Flashcards
What (4) nerves supply the hip joint?
- femoral & obturator nerves (L2-4)
- superior gluteal nerve & nerve to the quadratus femoris (L4-S1)
Association between glomerulonephritis/any autoimmune conditions & hip pain
Acute glomerulonephritis may have been treated with prednisolone -> this may affect later on with avascular necrosis & osteoporosis.
Total dose is the one that matters. There is a latency for many years before Px.
How do you assess the severity of hip pain?
- is it relieved by painkillers?
- impaired functions? (PADL, DADL, CADL limitations)
- pain at rest?
- does the pain wake the pt up?
- stiffness, clicking/grating, limping, leg weaknes, numbness, paraesthesia
- WOMAC, Oxford hip scores
What are the possible etiologies of local & referred pain to the hip?
Local: bone, joint, soft tissue
Referred: spine, SI joint
Fracture, arthritis, bursitis, tendinopathy, infection, tumour
Risk factors for secondary OA
- Hx of trauma
- other pre-existing joint disease. e.g. gout, inflammatory arthritis, childhood developmental disorders (congenital hip dysplasia, Perthes, slipped femoral epiphysis)
- Prednisolone use
Describe GALS exam
Screening rheumatological examination (Gait, arms, legs, spine)
- Look while standing.
- wasting of quadriceps, hamstrings
- alignment; pelvic tilt, lumbar hyperlordosis, flexed hip posture - observe gait
- antalgic (limp; short leg or pain) - Lying
- feel greater trochanter/gluteal region for tenderness - Move
- Flexion & extension (Thomas test - sensitive for OA)
- IR, ER, abduction & adduction - Special test
- leg length
- Trendelenburg test
- Spine examination
How do you measure apparent & true leg lengths?
- Apparent: from umbilicus to medial malleolus
- True: from ASIS to medial malleolus
What is the Trendelenburg test?
Special test for hip
It tests the gluteal muscles of the stance leg.
If the gluteal abductor muscles are weak, when the other leg is lifted off the floor, there is a tilt of the pelvis due to no compensation (i.e. no contraction of gluteal abductors) from the other (stance) side.
How do you diagnose OA? (Hx, O/E, XR)
Hx: stiffness
O/E: limited ROM esp IR, ER. Lose extension
XR: loss of joint space, osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis, subchondral cyst
Rx goals & details of Rx in OA
Relieve pain & improve mobility
- minimise muscle deconditioning/weakness
- exercise (non-weight bearing; e.g. swimming, cycling)
- 10% weight reduction very effective
- application of local heat before & cold packs after exercise to reduce inflammation & pain
- physio (support devices; e.g. cances, walkers, braces)
Pharm:
- analgesics: paracetamol, tramadol, codeine etc
- NSAIDs. SE: nausea, abdo pain, diarrhoea, gastritis & ulcers +/- GI bleeding (esp if on antiplatelets or anticoag)
- Glucosamine & chondroitin: low evidence
- intra-articular corticosteroid injections: effective in early phase (when inflammatory component exists).
Indications of total hip replacement
Disabling pain with failed non-op treatment
- severe degenerative changes & failure of non-op treatment for 3-6 months
- severe disabling pain; painful hip joint at rest & at night
- severely deformed hip, decreased ROM & function, impaired ADLs
Goal: to relieve pain, correct deformity, restore ROM & ADLs
Discuss medical optimisation pre-op
Preadmission assessment
- FBE, UEC
- Coag screen, blood group & hold
- MSU, MRSA screen (nose, perineum)
- ECG indicated for known IHD
R/v of medical problems:
- ?recent angina
- adequacy of BP control
- symptoms of cardiac failure
Surgeons would NOT accept pts on dual antiplatelets (but most accept only aspirin).
Cx of orthopaedic surgery
- intra op
- early post op
- late post op
- Intra op: injury to neovascular structures, fractures
- Early post op: haematoma, infection, wound dehiscence
- Late post op: dislocation, leg length discrepancy, fracture, loosening (aseptic vs. septic), heterotopic ossification
Indications for inpatient rehabilitation post orthopaedic surgery
- medical Cx, multiple comorbidities, pre-existing functional impairment
- post op weight bearing restrictions
- persistent pain, decreased ROM
- poor social support, poor home environment setup (stairs, difficult access)
Issues post operatively (after orthopaedic surgery)
- post op hospital stay (4days)
- wound Mx
- pain Mx
- rehab
- hip precautions
- anti coagulation
- Cx
- follow up