MSK Flashcards
What type of crystals are seen in aspiration of pseudogout? What are they made from?
Positively birefringent rhomboid crystals
Made from calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate crystals
Which conditions pre-dispose to pseudogout, how do you image it?
Hyperparathyroidism, hemochromatosis and acromegaly
XR will show chondrocalcinosis
Which blood test most accurately diagnoses RA?
Raised anti-CCP
What is club foot? How do you correct it?
Inverted and plantar flexed foot which is not passively correctable.
Mx = manipulation and casting from birth
What is a Colle’s fracture? Which nerve is commonly damaged and what motor function does this affect?
Dinner fork deformity due to a fall onto an outstretched hand
Affects the median nerve => inability to flex the thumb and index finger
What is the most important complication of temporal arteritis? How do you visualise this?
Anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy. Fundoscopy will reveal a swollen pale disc with blurred margins
How do you manage temporal arteritis?
If visual changes IV methylprednisolone
If no visual changes high dose oral prednisolone
What is trigger finger? How do you manage?
Stiffness and snapping on extending the finger from flexed
A nodule may be felt at the base of the finger
Mx = steroid injection
When should you suspect discitis?
With fever, severe lumbar spine pain restricting movement in an IVDU
How does colchicine affect the bowels?
It can cause diarrhoea
What is seen in a scaphoid #?
Swelling and tenderness of the anatomical snuff box, pain on wrist movement and on longitudinal compression of the thumb
What is a Smith’s #?
Reverse Colle’s #, caused by falling backwards onto an outstretched hand or falling with a flexed wrist
What is the initial management of a displaced #?
Closed reduction
What is Felty’s syndrome?
RA, splenomegaly and a low WCC
Sx of Polyarteritis Nodosa?
Fever, malaise, arthralgia, weight loss, HTN, haematuria, renal failure and livedo reticuaris
Often associated with hep B infection
What should you do if you suspect spinal cord compression?
Urgent MRI vertebrae and spinal cord and give high dose dexamethasone
What should you consider in a patient who is septic with a developing lower limb neurological defect?
Epidural abscess
What is Charcot’s joint?
A swollen, red and warm weight bearing joint which is not as painful as you would expect.
XR will show osteolysis and joint dislocation
Which conditions is Charcot’s joint associated with?
DM, alcoholic neuropathy, syphilis and cerebral palsy
Which bone is most commonly affected in stress #s?
The 2nd metatarsal shaft
What is the most commonly # metatarsal? What type of injury causes it?
The proximal 5th metatarsal
Caused by inversion of the ankle
Which bug is the most common cause of discitis?
Staph. aureus
What is pneuomnitis?
Cough, dyspnoea and fever associated with methotrexate
Sx of spinal stenosis?
Gradual onset leg pain +/- back pain with numbness and weakness which is worse on walking and is resolved by sitting, crouching or leaning forward
What investigation is important to do if you suspect spinal stenosis?
MRI to confirm the diagnosis and exclude malignancy
What is the Webber classification of ankle #s? How does it affect management?
A = below the syndesmosis
B = at the syndesmosis
C = above the syndesmosis
A/B require a cast/boot and weight bear as tolerated
C open reduction and internal fixation
Should you continue steroids if the temporal artery biopsy is normal?
Yes
There can be skip lesions
When should you suspect avascular necrosis?
Anterior groin/hip pain which is worse on weight bearing but no morning stiffness in the presence of long term steroid use, chemotherapy or alcohol excess
Mx of an intracapsular hip #?
Undisplaced (Garden Grade 1/2) = internal fixation
Displaced (Garden Grade 3/4)= total hip replacement or hemiarthroplasty (do id patient was unable to walk independently with no more than 1 stick before #, if cognitive impairment or not medically fit for the anaesthetic or op)
Mx of an extracapsular hip #?
If intertrochanteric = dynamic hip screw
If reverse oblique, transverse or subtrochanteric = intramedullary device
Sx Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Reduced lateral and forward flexion of the spine
Reduced chest expansion
Anterior uveitis, Aortic regurg, Achilles tendonitis and AV node block
What will be grown on aspiration of a joint affected by reactive arthritis?
Nothing! Reactive arthritis joints are sterile
How does Giant cell arteritis most commonly present?
As temporal arteritis.
Unilateral severe headache, jaw claudication, scalp tenderness on light touch, blurred/double vision
What is seen on Ix of Giant cell Arteritis? What are some important SEs to be aware of?
Ix = Raised ESR and multinucleated giant cells on temporal artery biopsy
Important complications are aortic dissection and aortic aneurysm
What should you always suspect in an acutely red, hot and swollen joint with fever or sepsis Sx? Which joint is most commonly affected?
Septic arthritis!
Most commonly affects the knee joint!
Sx and Mx of compartment syndrome? Which type of fractures are highest risk?
Sx = pain on movement (even on passive movement e.g. when assessing tone) which is out of proportion with clinical findings, paraesthesia, pallor and normal X-ray
Mx = urgent fasciotomies and aggressive IV fluids
Supracondylar and tibial fractures are the highest risk
What are the common knee injuries, how do they present?
ACL injury = high twisting force applied to a bent knee, loud crack with pain and rapid joint swelling
PCL injury = hyperextension injuries
MCL = leg forced into a valgus position from a force outside the leg
Meniscus = rotational sports injuries, delayed knee swelling with joint locking
Describe the Sx of L3 nerve root compression?
Sensory loss of the anterior thigh
Weak quadriceps, reduced knee reflex and positive femoral stretch test
Describe the Sx of L4 nerve root compression?
Sensory loss on the anterior knee and medial malleolus
Weak knee extension and hip adduction, reduced knee reflex and positive femoral stretch test
Describe the Sx of L5 nerve root compression?
Sensory loss on the dorsum of the foot
Weak foot and big toe dorsiflexion, normal reflexes and a positive sciatic nerve stretch test
Describe the Sx of S1 nerve root compression?
Sensory loss on the posterolateral aspect of the leg and lateral foot, weak plantarflexion of the foot, reduced ankle reflex and a positive sciatic nerve stretch test
How should you manage a nerve root compression?
NSAIDs +/- PPIs
If symptoms persist beyond 4-6 weeks consider referring to neuro for consideration of MRI
Describe PMR?
Aching and morning stiffness of the proximal muscles but NO true weakness.
Ix = raised ESR and CRP, CK and EMG are normal
Mx = prednisolone, if this fails to dramatically improve Sx consider an alternative diagnosis
Ix and Mx of osteomyelitis? What is the most common causative organism?
Ix = MRI
Mx = Flucloxacillin for 6 weeks (Clindamycin if penicillin allergic)
Staph aureus is the most common causative organism except in those with sickle cell, then it is Salmonella