MSK Flashcards
What is Raynaud’s phenomenon?
peripheral digital ischemia due to paroxysmal vasospasm affecting arteries supplying fingers and toes
What precipitates Raynaud’s syndrome?
cold
What relieves Raynaud’s syndrome?
heat
What are the symptoms of Raynaud’s syndrome?
numbness, burning sensation, severe pain when warmed up
Who is mainly affected by Raynaud’s syndrome?
young women
What happens in Raynaud’s syndrome?
initial pallor from vasoconstriction, followed by cyanosis due to sluggish blood flow, then redness from hyperamia
DD of Raynaud’s syndrome?
autoimmune rheumatic disease, bb therapy, raynauds disease
What is the treatment of Raynaud’s syndrome?
stop smoking, keep hands and feet warm, oral nefdipine, prostacyclin infusions, lumbar symphathectomy, evening primrose oil, sildenafil, prostsacyclin, vasodilators, avoid vibrating tools
What are the causes of gout?
hereditary, increased dietary purines, alcohol excess, diuretics, leukaemia, cytotoxics
Where do we acquire purines from?
from the break down of food or break down inown tissues in pathway
What are purines broken down into?
hypoxanthine, xanthine and then uric acid to be carried around in the bloodstream
What are the two outcomes for uric acid in humans?
be removed by the kidney or into monosodium urate crystals
What happens if there us a build up on uric acid?
overflows in the kidneys and becomes crystals in the joints and tissues
What can cause a increase of urate?
increased urate in diet, increase in cell death and turnover, increased cell damage, decreased excetion, drugs, fructose, genetics, increase in insulin levels, red meat, seafood
What 4 conditions can hyperuricaemia and deposition of sodium urate crystals result in?
acute gout, chronic polyarticular gout, chronic tophaceous gout, urate renal stone formation
What conditions can gout be a marker for?
CV disease, hypertension, diabetes, chronic renal failure
How common is gout?
prevalence is around 1%
Is gout more common in males or females?
Male, rare before adulthood
How many people with hyperuricaemia develop gout?
20%
What foods help against gout?
dairy, cherries, vit C, carbohydrate, smaller meals, 2000 calories
What is the saturation point of uric acid compared to the normal range?
Normal = 200-430umol/L Saturation = 380umol/L
What is acute gout?
inflammatory arthritis caused by hyperuricaemia and intra articular sodium urate crystals
What causes acute gout?
A sudden change in blood:tissue urate balance, either sudden overload or sudden reduction (ULT), cold, trauma, sepsis, dehydration, drugs
What symptoms does acute gout cause?
urate crystals trigger intracellular inflammation, causes severe pain, swelling, redness, commonly on metatarsophalangeal joint of big toe
What is the treatment of acute gout?
colchicine 500ug max tds, NSAIDs, steroids, ice, cherries, vit C, coxib
How does chronic trophaceous gout present?
large, smooth, white deposits (tophi) in the skin and around the joints, particularly on ear, fingers and Achilles tendon
What investigations can be used for gout?
polarised light microscopy of joint synovial fluid shows negatively birefringent urate crystal, raised serum urate (but can be normal in acute attack), radiographs show tissue swelling, serum urea and creatinine show renal impairment, well defined punched out erosions in juxta articular bone, no sclerotic reaction, joint spaces preserved till late
What is the long term treatment of gout?
stop diuretics and use losartan or fenofibrate instead, reduce weight, stop smoking, change diet, reduce alcohol, allopurinol 100mg/day, colchicine, NSAIDs, steroids
What should the starting dose for allopurinol be and how much should it be increased by if serum urate is not below 300 - WITH NO RENAL IMPAIRMENT??
100mg/day, increased by 100mg
What should the starting dose for allopurinol be and how much should it be increased by if serum urate is not below 300 - WITH RENAL IMPAIRMENT??
1.5mg/unit eGFR/day and increase by 1.5mg/unit eGFR/day
What are side effects of allopurinol?
rash, headache, myalgia
What value of eGFR can allopurinol be used down to in gout treatmeant?
30 eGFR
What should be monitored in allopurinol gout treatment and what can it rarely cause?
LFTs and U and Es, hypersensitivity syndrome
What mediations can be problematic in renal impairment for out?
NSAIDs and colchicine
What kind of medication Is Febuxostat for gout and how does it work?
It is a non purine Xanthine Oxidase inhibitor causing a decrease in uric acid
When should Febuxostat be used in gout treatment?
If Allopurinol is contraindicated , and it is more effective at decreasing serum urate
What is a side effect of Febuxostat?
increased LFTs
How do uricosuric drugs work in gout treatment?
increase urate excretion by inhibiting renal absorption of urate
What kind of drug is Benzbromarone in gout treatment?
a uricosuric drugs
What is the effect of Rasburicase in gout treatment?
rapid urate reduction
What is a risk of using Rasburicase in gout treatment?
high incidence of drug reactions
How is pegloticase used in gout treatment?
It is pegylated uricase
How is Tophi used in gout treatment?
It releases local protolytic enzymes causing erosisons of urate crystal
What is pyrophosphate arthropathy?
pseudogout from deposition of calcium pyrophosphate crystals on joint
Where on the body is pyrophosphate arthropathy commonly seen?
MCPs, wrists, knees, ankles
How does pyrophosphate arthropathy present?
as a hot or OA type joint, condrocalcinosis seen on x-ray
What is the treatment of pyrophosphate arthropathy?
IA steroids, orals steroids, colchicine, NSAIDs, coxibs, corticosteroids, correct metabolic abnormalities
How can you prevent future attack of pyrophosphate arthropathy?
decrease serum uric acid levels, lose weight, reduce alcohol, stop thiazides and salicylate, reduce calorie intake, avoid purine rich foods, allopurinol
What is pseudogout?
The deposition of calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate in articular cartilage and periarticular tissue producing chondroclacinosis
What is another word for pseudogout?
acute calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis
What can pesudogout be provoked by?
illness , surgery, trauma,
What kind of joints does pseudogout commonly affect?
larger joints
Who is most likely to get pseudogout?
elderly women
What conditions are associated with pesudogout in the young?
haemochromatosis, hyperparathyroidism, Wilson’s disease, acaptomina
What investigations should you do for pseudogout?
fluid joint microscopy - small brick shaped pyrophosphate crystals which are positively birefringent, increased WBC
What is the difference in appearance of gout and pseudogout fluid microscopy?
gout - negatively birefringent
pseudogout - positively birefringent
What is the treatment for pseudogout?
NSAIDs or colchicine, corticosteroid injection, methotrexate and hydroxycholorquine if chronic
What is fibromyalgia?
chronic widespread pain for >3 months below waist
What is the pain like in fibromyalgia?
widespread, unremitting, aching discomfort, sleep disturbances, poor concentration and awake unrefreshed
How many tender sites must be painful to be classified as fibromyalgia?
11/18
What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?
Pain, sleep disturbance, poor concentration, IBS, tension headache, dysmenorrhoea, atypical facial or chest pain
Who is mainly affected by fibromyalgia?
middle ages women, with low income, divorce and low eductation
What causes pain amplication syndrome?
changes in descending inhibitory pathways in the spinal cord, causing maladaptive pain response
What is the treatment for fibromyalgia?
psychosocial, MDT, exercise, CBT, treat depression, analgesics, antidepressants, low dose amitriptyline, dosulepin, trigger point injections with local anaesthetics, acupuncture, avoid unnecessary investigations
how do low dose amitriptyline or dosulpin help in firbromyalgia?
increase serotonin level in CNS, and increase descending sensory inhibition
What do investigations show in fibromyalgia?
They are normal, but appear agitated tender points, wincing, skin fold tenderness, tearful
What conditions are closely related to fibromyalgia?
depression, chronic headache, IBS, chronic fatigue, myofascial pain syndrome
What causes peripheral (nociceptive) pain?
stress, genes, cognitive and behavioural adaption
In what kind of pain are behavioural factors important?
central (non nociceptive) pain
What is the pain mechanism behind central (non nociceptive) pain?
There is a central disturbance in pain processing
Examples of peripheral (nociceptive) pain?
OA, RA, cancer
Examples of central (non nociceptive) pain?
fibromyalgia, IBS, tension migraine
What is the pain mechanism behind nociceptive pain?
due to inflammation or damage in periphery
How do analgesic affect central pain?
They have no effect
What can increase your pain volume and therefore increase pain?
substance P, glutamate, EAA, serotonin, neurotensin, nerve growth factor
What can decrease your pain volume and therefore decrease pain?
descending analgesic pathways, GABA, cannabanoids, adenosine
What can aggravate and trigger fibromyalgia pain?
stress, cold, activity, peripheral pain sundromes, infections, physical trauma, psychological stress, hormones alterations, vaccines
What kind of pain is experienced in fibromyalgia?
frequent wakng, waking unrefreshedm poor concentration, forgetful, low mood
DD for fibromyalgia?
hypothyroidism, SLE, PMR, inflammatory myopathy, increase calcium, lower vitamin D
What is hypermobility?
joints that move easily beyond expected range
Who is hypermobility common in?
children, decreases with age
Are there any symptoms to hypermobility?
mainly asymptomatic but can cause widespread joint pain
In the Brighton criteria, what is the diagnosis of hypermobility?
5 or more /9 joint hypermobile
What does benign joint hypermobility syndrome increase the tendency of?
recurrent sprains or dislocation
What is spondyloarthritis?
a group of conditions affecting the spine and peripheral joints
What are the common features that all spondyloarthritis conditions share?
predilection for axial inflammation, asymmetrical peripheral arthritis, sero negative, inflammation of the enthesis, associated with HLA-B27
What does seronegative mean?
absence of rheumatoid factor
what is ankylosing spondylits?
chronic inflammatory disease of spine and sacroiliac joints, unknown aietiology
What is the prevalence anykylosing spondylitis and in who is it most likely?
0.25-1%, in males aged 16 or 30
What are the clinical features of ankylosing spondylitis?
increasing pain and prolonged morning stiffness in lower back, limitation of lumbar spine mobility in saggital and frontal planes, anterior mechanical chest pain, acute intis, Achilles tendernitis, plantar fasciitis, tender chest wall,
How does ankylosing spondylitis affect movement?
progressive loss of spinal movement, decreased thoracic expansion, loss of lumbar lodosis, increased kyphosis, limitation of lumbar spine mobility in saggital and frontal planes
What causes anterior mechanical chest pain in anylosing spondylitis?
costochondritis and fatigue
What conditions are associated with ankylosing spondylitis?
osteoporosis, aortic valve incompetence, pulmonary apical fibrosis
What will investigations show in akylosing spondylitis?
increased ESR and CRP, X-ray shows erosion and sclerosis of sacroiliac joint margins with blurring of upper and lower vertebral rims at thoracolumbar junction, bony spurs when bone heals, progressive calcification of interspinous ligaments leading to bamboo spine, MRI shows sacroillitis, normocytic anaemia
What is the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis?
morning exercise, slow release NSAID s at night, methotrexate, TNF a blocking drugs for active inflammatory disease, physiotherapist, surgery of hip replacement, spinal osteotomy
how does morning exercise help in akylosing spondylitis?
maintains posture and spinal mobility
how do TNF a blockin drugs help in ankylosing spondylitis?
improve spinal and peripheral joint inflammation
What factors lead to a poorer prognosis in ankylosing spondylitis?
early hip involvement, poor response to NSAIDs, ESR
How many of those with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis?
10-40%, particularly with nail disease, can precede skin disease
Where does psoriatic arthritis usually affect?
the distal interphalangeal joints
What is arthritis mutilans?
destruction of small bones in hands and feet
What symptoms and other conditions are seen in psoriatic arthritis?
arthritis of distal interphalengeal joints, arthritis muilans, sacroilitis, nail changes, synovitis, acneiform rashes, palmoplantar pustulosis
What is the treatment of psoriatic arthritis?
analgesics, NSAIDs, anti TNF agents
What is reactive arthritis?
sterile arthritis affecting lower limbs
When does reactive arthritis usually occur?
1-4 weeks after GI infection or STI
How does an infection cause reactive arthritis?
persistent bacterial antigen in the inflamed synovium of affected joints cause inflammation
Where is reactive arthritis usually seen?
knees, ankles, feet
What is reites syndrome and in what disease is it usually seen?
the triad of urethritis, arthritis and conjunctivitis - seen in reactive arthritis
What can circinate balanitis lead to and in what disease is it usually seen?
causes superficial ulcers around penis and can harden and crust, seen in circumcised males
What do investigations show in reactive arthritis?
increased ESR, sterile synovial aspirate, increase neutrophils
What other conditions are usually seen in reactive arthritis?
circinate balanitis, keratoderma blenorrhagica, nail dystrophy, acute anterior ureitis, reites syndrome, sacroiliitus, spondylitis
What is the management of reactive arthritis?
STI check, NSAIDs, local corticosteroid injections, antibiotics for persistant infection, TNF a blocking drugs
What is enteropathic arthritis?
large joint mono or asymmetrical oligoarthritis
In what disease is enteropathic arthritis usually seen?
10-15% of IBD and 5% of IBS
What is the treatment of enteropathic arthritis?
DMARDS
In who is septic arthritis usually seen?
those over 65 and in prosthetic joint infection
What organisms commonly cause septic arthritis?
Staph. aureus, streptococci A or B or pnumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoea, e. coli, pseudomonas aeruginoas, clostridium, bacterioides, mycobacterium, fungi
If not treated immediately, what does septic arthritis cause?
destroyed joint in U24hrs, long term disability
What is the most common joint affected by septic arthritis?
the knee in >50% of cases
What are risk factors for septic arthritis?
prosthetic joints, pre existing joint disease, recent intra-articular steroid injection, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, chronic renal failure, recent joint surgery, IV drug abuse, over 80
how does septic arthritis present?
hot, painful, swollen, red joint developing acutely, fever and evidence of infection
How does infection in septic arthritis present?
wound inflammation, discharge, joint effusion, loss of function, pain
What investigations should be done in septic arthritis?
joint aspiration with gram satin, culture, WBC count, polarised light microscopy, bloods, leucocytosis, swabs
What would the WBC count appear to be in septic arthritis?
opaque, with up to 75,000 (inflammation is >3000 and normal is
What is a sign of septic arthritis in children?
They just won’t use the joint
What is the management of septic arthritis?
antibiotics depend on organism, joint drainage, aspiration, arthroscopy, open drainage, prosthetic joint, NSAIDs, splint, analgesics, physio, immobilise joint
What antibiotic should be used in immunocompromised patients for septic arthritis?
gentamicin
What are the main antibiotics used in septic arthritis?
flucolaxacillin IV and oral fusidic acid
What are the negatives in using excision arthroplasty in septic arthritis?
high risk if co morbidities or frail, low functional demand, uncontrolled with antibiotic suppression, re infection, poor functional outcome
What are the exchange arhroplasty principles for septic arthritis?
know the organism, debridgement of all infected and dead tissue, confirmatory intraoperative microsamples, appropriate antibiotic cover, sufficient soft tissue cover, stable joint reconstruction
What happen in a one stage exchange arthroplastly?
radical debridment, implant new prosthesis, cemented, symstemic and local antibiotics, avoid bone graft
What happen in a two stage exchange arthroplastly?
radical debridement, local antibiotic spacer, systemic antibiotics, interval stage, implant new prosthesis with tissue samples for culture, cemented or cementless with or without bone graft, routine antibiotic prophylaxis
What is osteomyelitis?
infection localised to bone
What makes you more susceptible to osteomyelitis?
malnutrition, diabetes, PVD, debilitating disease, decreased immunity
What are the main microorganisms in osteomyelitis?
Staphylococci is 90%, H.influenzae and salmonella, s.aureus, fungi, mycobacteria
How does osteomyelitis present?
fever, bone pain, with overlying tenderness and erythema, rigors, sweats, malaise
What do investigations show in osteomyelitis?
osteopenia, marrow oedema, blood cultures show infection, bone biopsy, foot swab
What is the treatment of osteomyelitis?
IV teicoplanin or flucoxacillin or ceftriaxone, oral fusidic acid after, surgical drainage, remove dead bone
What are some complications of osteomyelitis?
sinus and abscess formation, TB osteomyelitis, septic arthritis
What causes osteomyelitis?
trauma, surgery, spread of infection to bone, haematogenous seeding
What are the acute changes in osteomyelitis?
inflammatory cells, oedema, vascular congestion, small vessel thrombosis
What are the chronic changes in osteomyelitis?
necrotic bone, new bone formation, neutrophil exudates, lymphocytes and histocytes
How does inflammation cause necrosis in osteomyelitis?
Inflammatory exudate in the marrow increases intramedullary pressure and extension of exudate in the bone cortex causing rupture through periosteum, interruption of periosteal bone supply causes necrosis, leaving separated dead bone
Where does osteomyelitis usually occur?
hip, vertebrae, pelvis
Where is the most common place in the vertebrae to get osteomyelitis?
lumbar > thoracic > cervical
What is the difference on movement affecting the pain in osteomyelitis and septic arthritis?
septic is painful on movement and rest, osteomyelitis pain is localised and painful on movement
Is swelling more likely in osteomyelitis or septic arthritis?
septic arthritis
is fever more likely in osteomyelitis or septic arthritis?
osteomyelitis
What will investigations show in osteomyelitis?
increased WCC (acute only), increased ESR and CR, x-ray shows cortical erosion, periosteal reaction, mixed luceney, sclerosis, sequestra, soft tissue swelling, MRI shows marrow oedema, bone biopsy and culture (2 specimens)
What will blood cultures show in osteomyelitis?
positive in 50%, most useful in haematogenous OM
In who and where about is haematogenous OM most commonly seen?
adults over 50 in vertebra > clavicle/pelvis > long bones
children (85%) in long bones > vertebra
What are risk factors for haematogenous OM?
central lines, dialysis, sickle cell disease, urethral catheterisation, UTI, CF endocarditis
DD for osteomyelitis?
soft tissue infection, charcot joint, avascular necrosis of bone, gout, fracture, bursitis, maligancy
What is the treatment of osteomyelitis?
debridement , hardware placement or removal, antimicrobial therapy depending on organism , stop treatment based on ESR and CRP, failure to respond requires reimaging
How does biopsy differ in TB osteomyelitis?
prolonged culture, caeseating granulomatrix, induced sputum
What are the causes of mechanical lower back pain?
lumbar disc prolapse, osteoarthritis, fractures, spondyolsthesis, spinal stenosis
When is pain worse in mechanical lower back pain?
evening, absent in the morning, aggravated by exercise
What are risk factors for mechanical lower back pain?
female, age, pr existin widespread pain, psychological distress, poor health
What do bone scans show in mechanical lower back pain?
increased uptake with infection or malignancy
What investigations should you do in lower back pain?
Ct, MRI, bone scan, FBC, ESR, spinal x-ray
Red flags in back pain?
acute onset in elderly, nocturnal pain, younger than 22, older than 55, fever, night sweats, weight loss, morning stiffness, malignancy history, abdominal mass thoracic back pain, infection, immunosuppressed
What is the treatment of mechanical lower back pain?
treat underlying cause, analgesics, brief rest, physio, stay active, long term exercise programme
What does back pain in 15-30 years suggest of cause?
prolapsed disc, trauma, fractures, akylosing spondylitis, pregnancy
What does back pain in 30-50 years suggest of cause?
degenerative spinal disease, prolapsed disc, malignancy
What does back pain over 50 years suggest of cause?
degenerative, osteoporotic vertebral collapse, pagets malignancy, myeloma, spinal stenosis
What should you do in a back pain examination?
lumbar flexion and extension, test for sacroiliitis, check for neurological defects, digital rectal examination for perianal tone and sensation
What is spinal stenosis?
a narrowing of lower spinal canal, compresses the cauda equine causing back and butlock pain
What is the treatment of spinal stenosis?
surgical decompression