Joint pathologies Flashcards
Types of synovial joints
Planar (navicular/cuneiform) Hinge (humerus/ulna) Pivot (radius/ulna) Condyloid (radius/carpals) Saddle (carpal/metacarpal 1) Ball and socket (acetabular/femur)
Synovial joints
Diarthotic
Most moveable joints
Surrounded by capsule, lubricated by synovial fluid.
Cartilage
Avascular CT
No nerve supply
Dense network of collagen and elastic fibres embedded in chondroitin sulfate
Surrounded by perichondrium
Hyaline cartilage
Most abundant but weakest
Fine collagen fibres embedded in gem-type matrix
Provides flexibility and support
Reduces friction and absorbs shock.
Reactions of articular cartilage
Destruction (trauma, compression, corticosteroids, inflammation/infection)
Degeneration (time, premature aging, previous destruction, joint incongruity/irregularity).
Peripheral proliferation (bone spurs, osteoarthritis)
Reactions of Synovial Membrane
Effusion (increased production of synovial fluid)
Thickening of membrane (hypertrophy)
Adhesions post-injury.
Reactions of joint capsules and ligaments.
Joint laxity (post-injury, congenital, pregnancy, infection)
Joint contracture (disuse, congenital, infection, arthritis, muscle contractures)
Joint deformity
Displacement (subluxation, dislocation)
Excessive mobility restricted mobility
Gout
Metabolic arthritis
Monosodium urate (uric acid) crystals deposited in tissues, accompanied by attacks of acute arthritis.
Most common in big toe
Result of urate overproduction or decreased excretion
DDX. Septic arthritis, RA, neoplasm
Pathogenesis of gout
Normally, purines break down into uric acid, which is dissolved, passed through kidneys and excreted.
In gout, uric acid precipates into blood (poor kidney function or overproduction) and deposits in tissue.
- especially articular cartilage.
- triggers inflammatory response. (–> necrosis and proliferation of fibrous tissue).
Types of gout
Primary hyperuricemia (inherited)
Secondary hyperuricemia (secondary to a different metabolic disorder, or cancer/chemo)
Idiopathic
Tophi
Nodular masses of uric acid depositing in soft tissues of the body.
Traumatic Arthritis
Damage to articular cartilage – cartilage replaced by scar tissue – alters how joint works.
Loose bodies
“Joint mice”
Small pieces of bone or cartilage in joint space
Due to trauma, repetitive action, etc.
Hemarthrosis
Bleeding in joint spaces
Acute or chronic
May be complication of anticoagulant treatment.
Infectious arthritis
“Septic arthritis”
Joint inflammation as a result of infection
Most common in adults: staphylococcus aureus.
Medical emergency.
Most common in kids: haemophilia influenza
Most common in those getting lucky: neisseria gonorrhoea
Bacteria adheres to synovium –> breakdown of articular cartilage
Psoriatic arthritis
1/20 people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis
Primarily affects DIPs of fingers and toes. Can also affect spine.
Charcots arthropathy
Charcot joint, Charcot foot, neuropathic arthropathy.
Progressive degeneration of stress bearing portion of foot
Associated with diabetic neuropathy