Joint Exam

Question 1

if a pt presents with “bowlegs”, they have what kind of jt deformity?

Answer 1

varus

Question 2

if a pt presents with “knock knees”, they have what kind of jt deformity?

Answer 2

valgus

Question 3

what does poly-articular mean?

Answer 3

multiple jts involved in jt pain

Question 4

what does extra-articular jt pain mean?

Answer 4

bones, muscles, tendons, bursa, skin are involved

Question 5

what kind of medications are super important to ask about during hpi?

Answer 5

blood thinners, IV drugs

Question 6

what is the most sensitive indicator of jt disease?

Answer 6

range of motion

Question 7

where do you check pulses on a jt exam?

Answer 7

distal to injury

Question 8

special test for the shoulder?

Answer 8

painful arc

Question 9

special test for elbow?

Answer 9

tennis elbow test

Question 10

special tests for wrist/hand?

Answer 10

tinel test, phalen’s test

Question 11

where do you assess motor and sensory function of soft tissue injury or fracture?

Answer 11

distally

Question 12

grading scale for muscle strength?

Answer 12

0-5 (5 is normal)

Question 13

top causes of life threatening jt pain?

Answer 13

septic arthritis, referred pain (acute MI)

Question 14

when assessing jt pain, what’s the first thing you have to determine?

Answer 14

traumatic vs atraumatic

Question 15

if a pt presents with jt pain and they have no idea how it arose (but they know it’s not due to an injury), what do you determine next?

Answer 15

intrinsic vs extrinsic

Question 16

if a doc is using a syringe to collect synovial fluid from a jt capsule, what is he/she doing? what is this procedure for?

Answer 16

arthrocentesis, to see what the intrinsic cause is for jt pain

Question 17

septic arthritis is more common in what kinds of pts?

Answer 17

older than 80 years, diabetes mellitus, intravenous drug abuse