IC15 Management of soft tissue injuries Flashcards
What are the 2 types of joint pain?
- Articular
- Non-articular
Articular pain - pain from the joint
Articular pain is most painful at the joint line.
Non-articular pain - pain that is due to musculoskeletal
Pain is not at the joint. The pain on active movement and not passive movement.
A type of non-articular pain is periarticular pain.
Periarticular sources of pain originate in structures surrounding the joint.
What are these structures?
- Ligaments
- Tendons
- Muscles
What are the characteristics of soft tissue injuries?
- A consequence of chronic overuse / repetitive low-grade trauma
- Focal & non-systemic
- Self-limiting
- Responds to conservative measures / non-pharmacotherapy
What are some soft tissue injuries that require urgent referrals to the emergency department?
- Ligament rupture
- Infection-related causes
- Malignancy / metastasis
- Associated w lower back pain
What are the 3 main treatment goals for soft tissue disorders?
- Reduce pain
- Regain function
- Prevent future injury
Another type of treatment goal goes by the acronym RICERHARM.
What does RICERHARM represent?
R - rest
I - ice
C - compression
E - elevate
R - referral
H - no heat
A - no alcohol
R - no reinjury
M - no massage
If patient were to use ice for their injury, how should they go about doing it?
Patient should not put ice directly on the skin.
Wrap the ice around some cloth or plastic.
Ice the area for 10-15 mins. If it is still very painful, ice the area again.
What are the top 3 agents to use for pain relief in non-lower back pain?
For acute non-lower back pain:
1. PO paracetamol (not as effective)
2. Topical NSAIDs
3. Oral NSAIDs
What are the pros and cons of topical and oral NSAIDs?
Topical NSAIDs:
- (Pros) Fewer side effects as compared to oral NSAIDs
- (Cons) Unable to reach deeper regions
Oral NSAIDs:
- (Pros) Able to reach deeper regions - e.g hip injury.
- (Cons) Has more side effects
What are the 4 common types of soft tissue injury that we learnt in this IC?
- Sprain
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Plantar fasciitis
What are the definition of the 4 soft tissue injuries?
- Sprain
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Sprain - 3 types of sprains –> (1)stretching, (2)partial rupture, (3)complete rupture of ligament (bone-to-bone connective tissue)
- Tendonitis - inflammation of tendonitis (muscle-to-bone connective tissue)
- Bursitis - inflammation of bursae (fluid filled sacs around joints that cushion tendons / muscles from adjacent bones)
- Plantar fasciitis - inflammation of plantar fascia (fibrous attachment connecting heel bone to base of toes)
What is the most common type of sprain?
Lateral ankle sprain.
- Can be inversion or eversion of foot
Sprain is an injury involving ligaments.
What are 2 risk factors of sprain?
- Adult females > males
- Children & adolescents > adults
There are 3 grades of sprains - Grade I, Grade II, Grade III.
What is the severity of the injury that each grade represents?
Grade 1 - mild stretching of the ligament
Grade 2 - Incomplete tear of the ligament
Grade 3 - Complete tear of the ligament
What is the main characteristic of a Grade 3 tear?
Cannot bear body weight or move