Lower Extremity Disorders part 1 Flashcards
how to perform PE of the hip and thigh
- Anterior and posterior views - Noting deformities, muscular atrophy, swelling, discoloration, etc.
-
Palpate
- Iliac crests, posterior iliac spine, and the greater trochanter
- The anterior region for masses, adenopathy, or tenderness in the region of the anterior superior iliac spine - Note the patient’s gait
-
ROM
- Flexion
- extension
- abduction/adduction
- internal and external rotation
patient lying supine with lumbar spine flat on the table (knees slightly flexed)
what position is this?
zero starting position for flexion
Maximum flexion is the point at which ?
Normal degree of flexion?
the pelvis begins to rotate
Normal is 0 - 110° to 130°
how to examine extension of hip/thigh?
normal degrees?
- Perform standing, with leg hanging off side of table, or prone
- Normal 20°-30°
normal degree range for abduction/adduction
Abduction – normal is 35°- 50°
Adduction – normal is 25°- 35°
normal degree range for internal and external rotation in flexion of hip/thigh
Assess with knee and hip flexed
Normal is 25°- 35°
Evaluation for hip flexor contracture or tight psoas
Patient lies supine with legs hanging off end of table. The patient pulls one hip into maximum flexion while you observe the contralateral hip to see if it flexes off the surface of the table.
what test is this
thomas test
what is the trendelenburg test?
- Patient stands on one leg
- With normal hip abductor strength, the pelvis will stay level
- If hip abductor strength is inadequate, the pelvis will dip toward the opposite side; positive Trendelenburg test
- The muscle weakness is on the STANCE side
What is the FABER test for?
- AKA: Figure-of-4 test
- Stress maneuver to detect hip and sacroiliac pathology
- If painful, the hip or sacroiliac region may be affected
- Pain on ipsilateral side anteriorly = hip problem
- Pain in contralateral SI joint = SI dysfunction
how to perform and interpret Leg Length measurement
- Measured from the anterior iliac crest to the medial malleolus of the tibia of the same leg
- >3 cm difference can lead to significant back and hip problems
how to perform and interpret Log Roll Test
- Internally and externally rotate the relaxed lower extremity in a supine position
- Pain in the anterior hip or groin, particularly in internal rotation is indicative of OA or femoral head osteonecrosis
how to perform and interpret piriformis test
- Patient lies supine or on unaffected side, with hip and knee flexed to approximately 90 degrees
- Stabilize the pelvis with one hand and apply flexion, adduction, and internal rotation pressure at the knee
- Pain in the buttock or down the leg = (+) → piriformis is impinging on the sciatic nerve
how to perform and interpret Scouring test
- Flex the hip and knee at 90°, apply posterolateral force through the hip as the femur is rotated in the acetabulum
- Passively adduct and internally rotate the hip followed by abduction and external rotation
- Pain or grating sound = labral pathology, a loose body, or internal derangement
imaging options for the hip and femur
- Hip Series - AP; Lateral
- Specialty Hip Views - Frog Leg view; Obturator/Oblique view
- AP Pelvis - For comparison if needed
4 structures seen in obturator/oblique hip view
- iliopectineal line
- posterior acetabular wall
- acetabular roof
- obturator foramen
how does a hip dislocation occur most often?
Often occurs as part of a high grade, multi-trauma presentation
2 types of hip dislocation?
which is MC?
- Posterior: MC (90%)
- Anterior
posterior force applied to a flexed knee
Ex. MVA “knee-to-dashboard” injury, pedestrian vs vehicle, high energy impact athletes (football, rugby, gymnastics, skiing)
which type of hip dislocation
posterior
hyperextension force against an abducted leg or an anterior force on a posterior femoral head
which type of hip dislocation
anterior
Complicated injuries - most likely with which type of hip dislocation
posterior
4 complicated injuries from hip dislocation
- Acetabular or femoral head/neck fx
- Sciatic nerve damage - Sciatic and peroneal nerve MC
- Ligamentous injuries or fractures of the knee
- Avascular necrosis of femoral head
- Severe pain
- Inability to move affected leg
- Numbness, tingling, muscle weakness with nerve injury
- drop foot and sensory changes along lateral lower leg and dorsal foot
dx?
drop foot + sensory changes are indicative of what?
hip dislocation
peroneal damage
Leg is shortened, adducted and internally rotated
what type of hip dislocation?
posterior
Abduction with external rotation and flexion of the hip
which type of hip dislocation
anterior
The direction of anterior dislocation is determined by the ? at the time of injury
degree of hip flexion
diagnostics for hip dislocation
- X-ray hip series STAT
- CT hip W/O contrast - after reduction to assess for fracture and trapped intra-articular loose bodies
management for posterior hip dislocation
- Urgent closed reduction (w/in 6 hours!)
- Allis maneuver - MC performed technique
management for anterior hip dislocation
May require open reduction
all hip reductions require ?
- procedural sedation and post reduction films
-
Post reduction immobilization with a triangular “abduction pillow” or knee immobilizer
- Flexion and adduction positioning could cause recurrent posterior dislocation - ortho consult / referral
other reductions maneuvers for hip dislocation
- stimson gravity
- bigelow maneuver
- captain morgan
Emergent orthopedic consultation for hip dislocation is indicated if: (3)
- Anterior dislocation (usually requires open reduction)
- Posterior reduction is unsuccessful
- NV compromise
disposition for hip dislocations
- Most require hospital admission - Non-weight bearing, +/- traction and parenteral pain control
- Uncomplicated dislocations: Crutch assisted weight bearing followed by physical therapy until ambulation without pain
- followed and monitored for AVN x 2-3 years
2 MOI of hip fractures?
which is MC?
- Fall - MC
- Posterior force to flexed knee
classifications for hip fx
-
Intracapsular
- Femoral head
- Femoral neck -
Extracapsular
- Intertrochanteric
- Subtrochanteric
RF for hip fx
- Elderly age
- Caucasian
- Female
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Smoking
- Chronic alcohol use
- Psychotropic medication
- Dementia
- Osteoporosis
- Pain in groin, hip, buttock radiating to the knee
- Inability to ambulate
- Externally rotated, abducted, shortened leg
- Pain with minimal ROM or SLR
dx?
w/u?
- hip fx
- Standard hip XR series with pelvis; Additional images of back, femur and/or knee if needed; MRI/CT if negative XR
management for hip fx
- Urgent ortho consult (< 24 hrs)
-
Surgical intervention (w/in 48h)
- ORIF - young patients
- Arthroplasty in older patients - Allows for immediate ambulation - Additional immobilization is not necessary - maintain position of comfort
CI to surgery for hip fx (3)
- Medically unstable
- Patients who were previously non-ambulatory
- Dementia patients with minimal pain during transfers
complications with hip fx
- Infection
- DVT/PE
- Pneumonia
- Decubitus ulcer
- UTI
- Nonunion and avascular necrosis
- Implant failure is more common with extracapsular fractures
All hip fx patients should be evaluated post-operatively for ____
osteoporosis
2 MOI of greater trochanteric bursitis
- Repetitive trauma (running, walking)
- Blunt trauma
-
Lateral hip pain
- Radiates down lateral aspect of thigh and past the knee or up into the buttock
- Worse when rising from seated or recumbent position, night time when lying on affected side
- Improves after the first few steps but worsens again after prolonged walking (>30 min) - Point tenderness over greater trochanter
- Pain with active abduction and adduction + internal rotation
dx?
w/u?
tx?
- Greater Trochanteric Bursitis
- Hip series - r/oother ddx (hx of trauma etc.)
- NSAIDs, activity modification, ice; Short term use of cane if needed; home stretching, heat 15 min before and ice 20 min after; bursal injection w/ local anesthetic & corticosteroid
how to use cane for greater trochanteric bursitis
Hold the cane in the hand that’s opposite the side that needs support
cause of AVN
Bone infarction due to lack of adequate blood supply
Traumatic or systemic in nature (ex. microvascular thrombosis)
MC sites for AVN
- proximal and distal femoral heads resulting in hip and knee pain respectively
- Other sites: ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist (scaphoid fx), jaw (rare)
RF for AVN
- MC 20-50 years of age
- Trauma, alcohol/tobacco use, radiation therapy, long-term steroid use, bisphosphonates, hx of tissue/organ transplant, chronic medical conditions