MSK Flashcards
what are the signs adn symptoms of achilles tendinopathy?
- pain aggravated by acitvity or pressure to area
- stiffness in the tendon after rest
- crepitus, thickening, nodularity
- pain worsens with passive dorsiflexion
what is the difference between mid portion and insertion tendinopathy?
- gradual onset pain 2-6cm prximal to achilles tendon insertion - mid portion
- pain and swelling in insertion to posterior calcaneus - insertional tendinopathy
how do you investigate fro achilles tendinopathy?
US or MRI - by referral
what are teh risk factors for achilles tendinopathy?
- diabetes mellitus
- dyslipidaemia
- fluoroquinolone use
when woudl you suspect an achilles rupture?
- sudden pain in back of leg asociated with audible snap (1/3 dont experience pain)
- aching of calf, swelling, mild burising and weakness when pushing off affected foot
- difficulty weight bearing
what is the improtant test used to test fro achilles tendon rupture?
- Simmonds triad (angle of declination, palpation and calf squeeze test)
pt. lies prone with feet hanging off edge of bed
how do you manage an achilles tendon rupture in primary care?
admission or same day referral to ortho
how do you manage achilles tendinopathy in primary care?
- manage underlying causes (fluoroquinolone use, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes)
- ice packs apples to ease symptoms
- paracetamol for pain relief
- rest / reduce amount of exercise
- weight bear as tolerated
- if sympotms dontimrpvoe within 7-10 days refer to physio
what is a sprain?
stretch or teat of a ligament
what is a strain?
stretch and or tear of a muscle fibre or tendon
what are teh symptoms of a sprain?
pain, tenderness ,swelling, bruising, pain on weight bearing, decreased function, joint instability
what are the symptoms of a strain?
muscle pain, cramping, spasm, muscle weakness, inflammation, bruising
how do you manage a sprain or strain in primary care?
- pain relief
- PRICE
- advice on safe return to sport
- review after 5-7 days to see if improved
- if ongoing symptoms: physio referral
if worsenign/worrying symptoms: ortho referrral
what are the signs and symptoms of tennis elbow?
- insidious onset that may follow injury or increased levels of activity
- pain in lateral epicondyle of dominant arm with radiation down extensor aspect of forearm
- grip weakness
- localised point tenderness on palpation
what is the managment of tennis elbow?
- apply hear or ice to help relieve pain
- rest arm, avoid tasks that invovle high force
- pain relief
- if no improvment after 6 wks consider alternative diagnosis or consider referring to physio
what are the clinical features of raynauds?
demarcated pallor of the digits, followed by another colours (erythema or cyanosis)
sympotms precipitated by cold
may have parasthesia on rewarming
other extremities may be affected
waht is secondary raynauds?
occurs in association with an underlying condition (often connective tissue disorder that reduces blood flow to extremities)
= digital ulcers, gangrene, severe ischaemia, episodes are intense + painful, abnormal nail fold capillaries
what investigatiosn woudl you arrange if you suspected a pt. had raynauds?
FBC, ESR, ANA
other tests is suspect underlying cuase
how do you manage a pt. with raynauds in primary care?
- refer to rheum if <12yo or suspected secondary raynauds
- keep whole body warm
- stop smoking
- reduce stress
- exercise regularly
- trial of nifedipine as prophylaxis if no else works
what are the clinical features of plantar fasciitis?
- insidious onset heel pain
- intesne heel pain after period of rest
- pain reduces w moderate acitivty, but worsens after long periods of standing/walking
- tenderness on palpation of plantar heel area
- limited dorsiflexion range
- tightness of achilles tendon
- antalagic gait
what is the management of plantar fasciitis?
- most ppl make a complete recovery within a year
- rest foot
- wear shoes with good arch support
- cosnider purchasing insoles and heel pads
- lose weight
- analgesics
- icepack
- self -physio stretches
- if v serious: consider corticosteroid injeciton into plantar fascia
- after few monhts of self care and self physio then refer to podiatrist or physio
what are the clinical features of RA
- symmetrical synovitis of small joints of hands and feet, most commonly
- pain (worse at rest)
- swelling
- heat
- stiffness (worse in mornings fro ~1 hour)
- rhuematoid nodules, swan neck deformity, extra-articualr features, systemic features, FHx
- positive metocarpophalangeal squeeze test
- DIPJS SPARED !
what investigatios are done when RA is suspected?
clinical diagnosis! in primary care
can offer blood test for rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP
ESR, CRP
x -ray to determine disease severity or possibly MRI
management of suspected RA in primary care?
- refer urgently (wihtin 3 working days) if any of the following:
- small joints of hands and feet affects
- more than one joint affected
- > 3 months of symptoms
- consider offering low dose NSAID - ibuprofen/naproxen
what treatment is given in secondary care to patients with RA?
- DMARDs -methotrexate, sulfasalazine
- hydroxychloroquine
- glucocorticoids (short term bridging treatment until DMARD takes effect)
- biological DMARDs (infliximab, rituximab)
how shoudl RA flares be managed in primary care
- intraarticular glucocorticoid injection for localised flare
- IM glucocorticoid injection
- oral glucocorticoid (14 days)
- consider NSAID fro short time
what is olecranon bursitis?
olecranon bursa is a sac overlying the olecranon process of elbow
the bursa can become irritated and infalmed = bursitis ( septic or non septic )
what are the clinical features of olecranon bursitis
- swelling over olecranon process
- tender or warm
- fluctuant (movable and compressible)
- when elbow is in full felxion swollen bursa = compressed = pain
septic bursitis = systemic symptoms
when would you aspirate bursal fluid from a bursa?
septic bursitis or to rule out infection in persistent cases of aseptic bursitis
- sample for microscopy and gram staining
how shoudl you manage bursitis?
response to conservative treatment:
- rest, ice, reduec activity
- avoid trauma/direct pressure
- compressive bandaging
- analgesia for pain relief
- consider aspiration if effusion is large
- if no response to conservative or aspiration then corticosteroid injection
how shoudl you manage septic bursitis?
aspirate bursal fluid
fluclox 7 days 500mg QID
what are the signs and symptoms of pre patellar bursitis?
- pain, swelling (warm, tender, fluctuant) and redness of knee
- difficulty kneeling or walking
- fever
- history of trauma or repettive prolonged kneeling
what is a bakers cyst?
distension of teh gastrocnemius - semimembranosus bursa behind the knee
what can cause bakers cysts?
- trauma, local irritation (chidlren)
- OA, inflammatory arthropathies, meniscal teas, ACL damage (adults )
what are teh clinical features of a bakers cyst?
- asymptomatic swelling behind knee
- pain
- aggravated by walking
- tightness behind knee
- lump is round, smooth and fluctuant, tender
- cyst may feel tense in full extension and soften/disappear in flexion
- ROM may be restricted
what investigations need to be arranged when bakers cysts are suspected?
- US scan to confirm
- MRI is suspect meniscal tear as well
in children, how is a bakers cyst managed?
- admit to peads or A+E fro urgnet assessment
- if not underlyign disease and confirmed on US then reassure that will resolve without treatment
in adults, how is a bakers cysts managed?
identify and manage underlying condition if one
if asymptomatic: no treatment
if symptomatic: analgesia, refer to rehumatologist or ortho surgeon (aspirate or corticosteroid injection or athroscopy)
what are the clinical features of gout?
- arthritis: swelling, redness, warmth, pain
- tophi (firm, white nodules) - develop over 10 years after first attack
what are some risk factors of gout?
- alcohol intake,
- dietary intakes (red meat,seafood, fructose)
- drugs
- FHx
- associated co morbidity e.g. obesity, HTN, hyperlipideami, diabetes
what ivnestigatiosn are doen when gout is suspected?
diagnosis doesnt usualy need investigations but if in doubt:
joint fluid microscopy and culture - see urate crystals
serum uric acid measures after acute attack
joint xray - normal
when woudl you suspect septic arthritis over gotu -
if patient is systemically unwell e.g. fever then suspect septic
what is the managemnt of acute gout?
- selfcare: rest, ice, elevate, avoid trauma
- pharm: NSAID (+PPI) or oral colchicine
possible joint aspirationa dn intra articular croticosteroids
^^ if noen of above possibel then consider oral or IM corticosteroids
+paracetamol