MSK 2 Flashcards
Vertebral column organisation?
33 vertebrae organised in 5 sections
- 7 cervical
- 12 thoracic
- 5 lumbar
- 5 sacral (fused)
- 4 coccygeal (fused)
C1 and C2 vertebrae? C7?
- C1 = atlas, no vertebral body
- C2 = axis, dens
- C7 = vertebral prominens, (vertebral artery does not pass through transverse foramen)
Intervertebral disc cartilage?
Secondary cartilaginous joint (fibrocartilage)
Facet joints also known as? What kind of joint? How do facet joints affect mobility of spinal sections? (3)
Facet joints = zygapophysial joints
- Synovial joint
- Cervical = horizontal facet joints, allows greatest movement
- Thoracic = less flexion/extension due to constraint of ribs
- Lumbar = more movement than thoracic spine, due to more vertical facet joints
Consequence of loss of intervertebral disc water with ageing? Tx?
Overload of facet joints and secondary OA
* If OA involves only 1 or 2 segments, can be treated with fusion
Where does slipped disc usually affect? Dx?
L4/5
* MRI is not diagnostic unless symptoms are present as 60% of ASYMPTOMATIC people > 45 y/o have bulging discs on MRI
Ax acute disc prolapse? s/s?
Lifting heavy object -> annulus tear -> “twang”
* pain on coughing
Location motor neurones in spinal cord? Sensory neurons?
- Motor neurons = bodies in anterior grey horn
* Sensory = bodies in dorsal (posterior) root ganglion
Where does spinal cord run?
Vertebral foramen
Where does spinal cord end?
L1 - cauda equina
Exiting and transverse nerve root?
- exiting nerve root i.e. outside the thecal sac passes under the pedicle of the corresponding vertebra (ie L4 root passes under L4 pedicle)
- traversing nerve root inside thecal sac (in lateral recess) prepares to penetrate thecal sac and become the next exiting nerve root more distally
(L5 nerve root is the traversing nerve root at the L4-L5 level, and is the exiting nerve root at the L5-S1 level)
Which nerve root is often compressed in disc prolapse? Exception? Effects of nerve root compression? (3)
- Trasverse root
- In far lateral disc prolapse the exiting nerve root can be compressed
- RADICULOPATHY resulting in pain down the sensory distribution of the nerve root (dermatome), which in the lower leg is known as SCIATICA
- Weakness in muscle supplied (myotome)
- Absent reflexes
Spinal stenosis? s/s?
Complication of OA
* Neurogenic claudication = leg pain on walking (relieved by rest)
Babinski sign?
Can indicate spinal cord compression (when sole of foot is stimulated, big toe travels upwards instead of downwards)
Cauda equina syndrome? S/s? (3)
caused by pressure (usually prolapsed disc) on all lumbosacral nerve roots resulting in loss of BLADDER and BOWEL control
- Bladder and bowel dysfunction
- Saddle anaesthesia
- Loss of anal tone - PR exam req!!!
Erector spinae muscles? (3)
- Iliocostalis
- Longissimus thoracis
- Spinalis thoracis
(strengthen muscles to help back pain)
Use complete anatomy to find supraspinous ligament, interspinous ligament, anterior + posterior longitudinal ligament, intertransverse ligaments
…
Chance fracture? tx?
Highly unstable - can damage spinal ligaments
* May need surgical stabilisation
At what level is lumbar puncture and spinal anaesthesia carried out?
- L4 - i.e. posterior iliac crest
side note, S2 is level of PSIS
Mechanical back pain? s/s? Red flags?
Related to joints/muscles with no red flag features
* worse with activity, relieved by rest
Red flags
* red flags = weight loss, night sweats, bladder/bowel symptoms
Tx for sciatica that doesn’t settle within 3 months? Difference between mechanical back pain and sciatica?
- Discectomy or decompression
* Mechanical back pain can radiate to buttock and thigh but will NEVER go below knee (sciatica should go below knee)
How do bones grow?
Longitudinal from the growth plate (physis) by enchondral ossification
+
Circumferential from the periosteum by appositional growth
Factors affecting growth plate in children? (5)
- Diet / Nutrition
- Sunshine, Vitamins (Vit D & A)
- Injury
- Illness
- Hormones (GH)
Normal development milestones? (10)
- 1-6 months Loss of primitive reflexes – Moro, grasp , stepping, fencing
- 2 months head control
- 6-9 months - Sits alone, crawls
- 8-12 months – stands
- 9-12 months few words
- 14 months feeds self, uses spoon
- 14-17 months walks
- 18 months stacks 4 blocks, understands 200 words
- 24 months jumps
- 3 years manages stairs alone + potty trained
Knee alignment during ageing?
- infant = genu varum
- 1 year = neutral alignment
- ~2 years = genu valgus
- 4 years = neutral alignment
When is genu varum normal? When is it considered pathological? (4)
<2 y/o (however, persisting mild genu varum can run in families)
- Unilateral (asymmetry >5*)
- Severe >2SD from mean
- Short stature >2SD
- painful
Ax pathologic genu varum? (5)
- Skeletal dysplasia
- Rickets
- Tumour e.g. enchondroma
- Blounts disease
- Trauma (physeal injury)
Blounts disease? Dx?
Growth arrest of medial tibial physis of unknown aetiology
* beak-like protrusion on x-ray
When is genu valgum normal?
When is genu valgum considered pathological?
Ax genu valgum? (4)
Tx?
Peaks at age 3.5
- Unilateral (asymmetry >5*)
- Severe >2SD from mean
- Short stature >2SD
- painful
Ax
- Tumours - enchondroma, osteochondroma
- Rickets
- Neurofibromatosis
- Idiopathic
Tx
>8cm intermalleolar distance at age 11 = consider surgery
Inteoing? Ax? (3)
Femoral neck anteversion test?
Child walks with toes pointing in AKA pigeon-toed
- femoral neck anteversion
- Internal Tibial Torsion
- metatarsus adductus
Increased internal hip rotational range (tend to sit in W position)
Internal tibial torsion tx?
Usually seen in toddlers (1-3 yrs) and vast, vast majority resolve by 6 yrs!!
Metatarsus adductus?
Common, benign, resolves
Intoeing tx?
- Determine cause - femur, tibia, foot
* Discharge unless persisting and severe
How to determine if flat feet flexible or fixed? Flexible Ax? Fixed Ax?
Ask patient to walk on tip-toes (if actively dorsiflex, arch will become visible)
- Ax = ligement laxity or tightness gastrocsoleus complex (can assess calf tightness by flexing knee)
- Rigid Ax (uncommon) = underlying bony connection known as tarsal coalition (may req surgery if painful!!)
Hypermobility assessment?
Beighton score (9/9)
Curly toes? Tx?
Very, very common - vast majority resolve by 6 yrs
- splinting or taping are ineffective!!!
- if very severe case, can consider flexor tenotomy
Anterior knee pain epidemiology? Ax? Dx? (2) Tx?
- Adults, females > males
- Ax = stairs/squats
- Dx = x-ray + ALWAYS CHECK HIPS!!
- Tx = physio
Causes of back pain? (5)
- Viscerogenic - abdominal viscera
- spondylogenic
- Discogenic
- Neurogenic
- Psychogenic
Viscerogenic causes of back pain? (7)
- AAA
- RENAL PAIN (COLIC)
- PANCREATITIS
- PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE
- GALL BLADDER
- UTERINE/OVARIAN
- COLONIC
Spinal pathologies leading to back pain? (4)
- Wedge fracture due to osteoporosis
- Tumours - metastatic i.e. bad boys pee through kidneys (breast, bronchus, prostate, thyroid, kidneys), primary tumour in spine is myeloma
- Infection
- Inflammatory - ankylosing spondylitis
Nerve root problems leading to back pain? Pathogenesis disc prolapse? Common consequence of disc prolapse?
- cauda equina syndrome
- L5 disc prolapse (will affect S1 nerve root)
Pathogenesis
* Impaired disc nutrition -> damage -> disc fissure -> protrusion/extrusion/sequestration
- Consequence = face joint arthropathy
Causes of mechanical back pain? Dx? Tx?
Ax: spondylolysis (linear crack) and spondylolisthesis (break allows vertebrae to slide on vertebrae above)
Dx: Scottie dog appearance on x-ray
Tx: usually non-surgical however occasionally requires stabilisation surgery
Neurological examination of spine consists of? (4)
- Myotomes
- Dermatomes
- Reflexes
- Nerve irritation
Nerve irritation tests? (2)
- Straight leg raise for sciatic nerve roots
* Femoral stretch test for femoral roots
Myotomes? (4)
- Hip flexion = L1/L2
- Knee extension = L3/4
- Foot dorsiflexion + big toe = L5
- Ankle planterflexion = S1/2
What can restrict straight leg raise?
Hamstring tightness
What other examinations should be carried out when considering the spine? (2)
- Abdominal exam
* PR exam
Ix back pain? (5)
- MRI
- Diagnostic facet injection
- Contrast enhanced CT
- Provocation discography
- Selective nerve block / ablation
(x-rays are pretty useless)
Thoracic outlet syndrome Ax?
Can be caused by cervical rib
Antalgic gait?
gait that develops as a way to avoid pain while walking
Developmental dysplasia of the hip?
Epidemiology? (2)
abnormal development resulting in dysplasia and possible subluxation or dislocation of the hip
- Most common orthopaedic disorder in newborns (usually female, left hip)
- More commonly seen in Native Americans and Laplanders, rare in Africans
Pathophysiology DDH?
Risk factors? (5)
- Genetic laxity, intrauterine/post-natal malpositioning
Risk factors
- Firstborns
- Female
- Breech birth
- Family history
- Oligohydraminos (not enough fluid)
Patient presentation DDH? (3)
Dx? (3)
- Early = abnormality on screening
- Late = limping child (Trendelenburg gait)
- Too late = secondary arthritic changes
Dx: examination, USS, imaging
Clinical examination DDH? (3)
- Inspection = leg lengths, restricted abduction
- Ortalani (‘o’ for out = abduction)
- Barlows = pushing hip backwards to try and dislocate
Tx early DDH?
Late DDH?
early
PAVLIK HARNESS - hold ships flexed + abducted
(USS to monitor improvement)
Late
SURGERY
* Closed reduction - tenotomies
* Open reduction - osteotomies
Reactive synovitis of the hip?
s/s? (3)
Inflammation of the synovium, often secondary to a viral illness
- Limp, hip/groin pain (sometimes referred to knee)
- Hip flexed
- usually systemically well, apyrexial
Dx reactive synovitis?
Tx?
Koshers criteria (distinguishes between RS and septic arthritis)
Tx = self-limiting (but analgesia and NSAIDs if req)
Septic arthritis of hip?
S/s? (5)
SURGICAL EMERGENCY!
- Acute onset
- Unable to bear weight due to hip/groin pain
- hip flexed
- severe hip pain on passive movement
- Pyrexial (but usually haemodynamically stable i.e. normal HR)
(Legg-calve) Perthes disease? Ax?
Epidemiology?
Risk factors? (4)
Avascular necrosis of the hip
* Ax = Idiopathic
Epidemiology
- 4-8 y/o
- Males > females
- higher in lower socioeconomic classes
Risk factors
- Family history
- Low birth weight
- Second hand smoke
- Asian, inuit, European
Pathophysiology Perthes disease?
- osteonecrosis due to disruption of blood supply to femoral head
- revascularization then collapse
- creeping substitution provides pathway for remodeling after collapse
S/s Perthes disease? (2)
Dx?
- Painless limp (sometimes intermittent groin pain)
- Hip stiff
Dx = x-ray, MRI
Tx Perthes disease?
- Restrict weight-bearing
- physiotherapy
- Surgery (osteotomy for young patients, arthroplasty for older patients)
Slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE)?
Epidemiology? (3)
condition affecting proximal femoral physis that leads to slippage of the metaphysis relative to the epiphysis
- Males (10-16)
- Obesity
- Endocrine disorders (GH deficiency, hypothyroidism)
S/s SUFE? (2)
Dx?
Tx?
S/s
- Groin pain
- Limp (antalgic)
Dx = X-ray, MRI (“ice cream falling off cone”)
Tx = SURGERY (percutaneous pinning of hip or open reduction if v severe)
Straight leg raise significance?
Tx?
Risk factors for rupture? (3)
if can’t raise leg, ruptured extensor mechanism of leg i.e. quadriceps tendon/muscle (palpable gap)
- Tx = surgical repair (NEVER inject with steroids!!)
- Risk factors = chronic renal failure, steroids, previous tendonitis
What is the most common meniscal tear?
Dx?
Tx?
Medial meniscal
Dx = MRI
* Tx = bucket handle tears require urgent surgery, radial tears will not heal with surgery as only peripheral 1/3rd has blood supply
Degenerate tears? tx?
Often asymptomatic, surgery not useful
Function of MCL? LCL?
Tx for injury?
- MCL = resists valgus stress
- LCL = resists varus stress
Tx = brace, physio (rarely reqs surgery)
PCL rupture presentation? (2)
Recurrent hyperextension + instability descending stairs
Ax ACL injury? Tx?
Ax = twisting Tx = reconstruction
PCL rupture Ax?
Direct blow to anterior tibia
Knee dislocation?
Tx?
NO NOT confuse with patellar dislocation
* Tx = emergency reduction, check neurovascular status, vascular surgery
Patellar dislocation Ax? Tx?
Rapid turn or direct blow (females > males)
* Surgical stabilisation
What anatomy do imaging tests show?
- X-rays only show bone outlines
- CT shows bone outlines in more detail and some soft tissue structures eg lumbar discs
- MRI shows bone outlines in less detail but shows bone marrow, discs, ligaments and the spinal cord and nerves
(i. e. all the soft tissue structures)
Describe structure of vertebrae? (2)
Vertebral body Posterior arch made up of: * 2 pedicles * 2 laminae * 1 spinous process * 2 transverse processes
Vertebral neural foramen found?
Lies inferior to pedicle
Appearance of ligaments on MRI?
Ligaments are only seen by MRI
- Normal ligaments are BLACK on MRI
- Damaged ligaments are LIGHT on MRI
X-ray and CT findings of bony tumours in spine? (3) Unique MRI findings? (2)
X-ray + CT
- Bone destruction
- Vertebral collapse (pathological fracture)
- Bone sclerosis
Unique MRI findings
- Early - bone marrow infiltration
- Late - extradural mass + spinal cord compression
What imaging is used for intervertebral discs?
X-rays useless (cannot see discs)
* CT and MRI show discs and disc prolapse but MRI is best
What imaging is used for spinal cord?
- Invisible on x-rays
- Poorly shown by CT
- Only adequately shown by MRI
Ax spinal cord disease? (4)
Trauma
Demyelination
Tumour
Ischaemia
Inflammatory myopathies? (2)
s/s? (7)
Polymyositis + dermatomyositis
- MUSCLE WEAKNESS
- Stiffness
- Abnormal blood tests
- Fever
- Weight loss
- raynauds
- Polyarthritis
Ax polymyositis + dermatomyositis? Epidemiology? (2)
Risks associated with inflammatory myopathies?
Idiopathic
- Ex = female>male, 40-50
- Risks = malignancy i.e. Ovarian, breast, stomach, lung, bladder and colon cancers (risk of malignancy greatest in men >45 years)
Ix polymyositis + dermatomyositis? (7)
- MUSCLE BIOPSY (definitive test) - necrosis, degeneration, inflammatory cells
- CXR (lung involvement - ILD + myocarditis)
- Electromyography - increased muscle fibrillations, abnormal motor potentials
- OGD - oseophageal dyphagia
- Blood tests (CK, CRP, calcium, electrolytes, AUTOANTIBODIES - ANA, anti-Jo)
- Confrontational testing + isotonic testing
- MRI muscles (inflammation, oedema, fibrosis, calcification)
Main feature of inflammatory myopathies?
MUSCLE WEAKNESS
- Insidious onset, worsening over months
- Usually symmetrical proximal muscles
- Specific problems = difficulty brushing hair, climbing stairs
Dermatomyositis skin manifestations? (3)
- Gottrons sign (hands)
- Heliotrope rash
- Shawl sign
Risk factors inflammatory myopathies? (4)
- Medical problems = diabetes, thyroid disease
- Drugs = steroids, statins
- FHx
- Social = alcohol, illicit drug use
Tx inflammatory myopathies?
- Glucocorticoids
- Azathioprine
- Methotrexate
- Ciclosporin
- IV immunoglobulin
- Rituximab
Polymyalgia rheumatica associated with? Epidemiology?
s/s? (6)
Difference between polymyalgia rheumatica and inflammatory myopathies?
GCA + temporal arteritis
* >50 years
s/s
- Symmetrical shoulder + hip pain
- Stiffness
- Fatigue
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Fever
MUSCLE STRENGTH IS NORMAL
Temporal arteritis/GCA? s/s? (5)
Granulomatous arteritis of large vessels
- Headache
- Scalp tenderness
- Jaw claudication
- Visual loss (amaurosis fugax)
- Tender, enlarged, non-pulsatile temporal arteries