MSK Flashcards
Winged scapula?
Damage to long thoracic nerve, which innervates serratus anterior
Usually holds scapula in place
Clavicle fractures?
Most common place - lateral 1/3rd
Sternocleidomastoid muscle elevates medial fragment, pec major pulls down lateral fragment
Shoulder drop (sagging limb)
Subclavian vessels most at damage risk
Suprascapular nerve at damage risk - results in unopposed medial rotation (waiter’s tip position)
Calcific Tendinitis?
Calcium hydroxyapatite deposit
Subacromial impingement if large
If bursts –> acute calcific tendinitis
Long head of biceps rupture?
Causes Popeye’s muscle
Impingement?
Impingement of tendons/bursa by bones in the shoulder
Common cause of shoulder pain
Low painful arc, tender over tuberosity
Rotator cuff tear?
Full thickness, large tears Impingement signs Supraspinatus, infraspinatus weak Progressive functional loss with size of tear Glenohumeral arthiritis
Acromioclavicular osteoarthritis?
Usually asymptomatic
High painful arc
Tender joint
Glenohumeral osteoarthritis?
Progressive pain/stiffness over years in joint
Crepitus
Frozen shoulder/Adhesive capsulitis?
Severe progressive nocturnal jerk pain, stiffness
Resolves after 2-3 years
Shoulder dislocation?
Possible brachial plexus dislocation
Axillary nerve most likely damaged
Mid-shaft humeral fracture?
Radial nerve most likely to be injured - causes wrist drop
No big effect on elbow movement (trice innervation not effected)
Elbow dislocation?
FOOSH
Capsule and annular ligament somewhat damaged
Pain, deformity, loss of function
Prognosis: either simple or stiffness & recurrent instability
Supracondylar fracture?
Fracture of supracondylar region of distal humerus
FOOSH
Pain, swelling, bruising, loss of function
Median nerve possibly damaged (check for radial pulse, OK sign etc)
Radial head/neck fractures?
FOOSH
Commonest elbow fracture
Lateral pain, modest swelling, loss of range
Pulled/nursemaid’s elbow?
Subluxation of radial head from annular ligament
Longitudinal traction along extended arm
Reduced movement/lateral pain
More common in children
Elbow osteoarthritis?
Degenerative disease of articular cartilage - wear and tear
Can be primary or secondary (post traumatic)
Rare symptoms
Elbow rheumatoid arthritis?
Commonest inflammatory arthropathy Systemic autoimmune disease Synovial pannus causes joint destruction cellular enroaches on joint surface Morning stiffness Rheumatoid nodules
Lateral elbow tendinopathy?
Tennis elbow
Degenerative tendinopathy - common extensor origin
Elbow pain, radiating pain from neck or shoulder
Medial elbow tendinopathy?
Golfer’s elbow
Degenerative tendinopathy - common flexor origin
10X less common than LET
Presentation similar to LET
Ulnar fractures?
Most common site is shaft - Ulna pulled proximal
Olecranon process can be fractured - FOFE, triceps displaces fragment proximally
Olecranon bursitis?
Student’s elbow
Inflammation of bursa due to trauma or friction
Soft, cystic, transilluminates
Can become infected
Gouty tophi?
Disorder of nucleic acid metabolism - hyperuricaemia (urate crystal deposition)
Urate crystal deposition
Recurrent attacks of arthritis
Also effects ear and Achilles tendon
Colles’ fracture?
Dinner fork fracture Most common fracture of radius Dorsal displacement and angulation, radial shortening (inward) FOOSH Pain, swelling Increased risk with Type 1 osteoporosis
Smith’s fracture?
Palmar displacement and angulation, shortening (inward)
FOOSH (back of hand)
Pain, swelling
Scaphoid fracture?
Most frequently fractured carpal bone
FOOSH
Tenderness in Snuff box, pain on lateral side
Hard to see on initial X-rays
Tenuous (weak) blood supply - poor healing, avascular necrosis
Delayed presentation
Herpes Zoster (shingles)?
Viral infection (affects the skin of a single dermatome)
Caused by reactivation of Varicella zoster virus (chickenpox)
Virus travels through cutaneous nerve and remains dormant in dorsal root ganglion
When host immune suppressed - reactivated, travels through peripheral nerve to skin of single dermatome
Tenosynovitis of hand tendons (APL/EPB)?
APL/EPB tendons swell up
Causes pain
Finkelstein’s test - Squeeze thumb into palm, ulnar deviate –> painful
Treatment: surgery, steroids, splint
Dupuytrens disease?
Build up of scar tissue in palm
Causing >30 degree contracture of interphalangeal joints of hand
More common - Caucasian
Due to: usually genetics, diabetes, epilepsy
No cure
Tendon avulsion (FDP)?
FDP tendon snaps at distal phalanx, pulls off chunk of bone with it
Carpal tunnel syndrome?
Compression of the median nerve at wrist due to increased pressure in carpal tunnel
Symptoms: tingling in radial 3 and a half fingers (worse at night), numbness, weakness/atrophy of thenar muscles
Positive Phalen’s and Tinel’s test to diagnose
Treatment: treat the cause, splints, steroid injections, surgery
Tinel’s test?
To diagnose CTS
Percuss firmly on anterior wrist
Positive: Tingling in thumb, index, middle fingers, radial side of ring finger
Phalen’s test?
To diagnose CTS
Force flexion of wrist for 60s
Positive: Tingling in thumb, index, middle fingers, radial side of ring finger
Low ulnar nerve injury?
Ulnar nerve damaged at wrist - distal ulnar claw
Flexed at IP joints - lost extension of lumbricals
Little and ring fingers hyperextended at MCP joint - FDP works in opposition to lumbricals
High ulnar nerve injury/ulnar paradox?
Ulnar nerve damage at elbow - proximal ulnar claw (less pronounced)
Paradox - paralysis of ulnar half of FDP and flexor carpi ulnaris. Only FDS working (not a strong clawer)
Hence no flexion at distal IPJ of ring and little finger
Looks less serious but is actually worse
Ulnar nerve neuropathy/Cubital tunnel syndrome?
Compression of ulnar nerve at elbow
Effects ulnar one and a half digits - numbness, parasthesiae, weakness
Hypersensitive “funny bone”
Radial nerve injury?
Radial nerve damaged
Wrist drop when attempted to extend
Due to inability to extend forearm –> reduced supination, reduced thumb abduction
Median nerve injury?
Median nerve damaged
Hand of Benediction - inability to flex 2nd & 3rd MCP joints/fingers on attempts to make a fist/flexion
Locked knee?
Leg stuck in one position, can’t bend or straighten
- True locking: due to mechanical block (meniscus tear etc)
- Pseudo locking: causes pain, muscle spasms
Osgood Schlatter’s disease?
Traction apophysitis (inflammation of apophysis-common tendon insertion site) of tibial tubercle M>F, common young sport’s injury
Pre-patellar bursitis?
Housemaid’s knee
Inflammation of pre-patellar bursa