MSK Flashcards
What is Gower’s sign?
When a child uses hands to ‘walk up’ their body because they have weak proximal (thigh and hip) muscles.
Seen in muscular dystrophy.
Describe the stages of an paediatric MSK examination?
Gait Standing Supine (lying on back) Prone (lying on front) Sitting down Abdomen (as pain can be referred here from hip) Look for Gower's sign
What is lumbar hyperlordosis? In which patients is this commonly seen?
When the lumbar spine is curved inwards too much
Muscular dystrophy
What is antalgic gait?
When pain causes abnormal gait.
The phase of the gait in which there is weight bearing is shortened to avoid pain
What is short limb gait?
When one leg is shorter than other so pelvis moves up and down on side of shorter leg.
Looks like a lurching gait
What is Trendelenburg gait? What causes it?
The sound side sags! One hip sags down due to weakness of abductor muscles in lower limb
What is equinus gait? What causes it?
Tiptoe walking
Can just be habit, spasticity (in cerebral palsy)
What is steppage gait? What causes it?
Lifts knee up high to avoid tripping up on foot affected by foot drop
What is ataxic gait?
Uncoordinated gait, as if drunk.
Cerebellum problem, problem with joint proprioception.
Define valgus and varus.
Valgus: away from midline
(vulgur, you want to get away!)
Varus: towards midline
What is genu varum?
Feet are more towards midline and knees are away from midline
Bow legs
What is genu valgum?
Feet are away from midline, knees are towards
Knock knees
What is in-toeing and out-toeing? Cause? Which is more common?
When toes point either inwards or outwards.
Children are born with abnormalities that cause both of these.
In-toeing is more common
Name and briefly describe the 3 causes of in-toeing.
Metatarsus varus (feet look like crescent moon)
Tibial torsion (tibia is laterally rotated less that normal, so feet point to eachother)
Femoral anteversion (femoral neck is twisted forward more than usual, knees and feet point to eachother)
Most cases of in-toeing resolve themselves. True or false?
True, by age 5-8.
What is ‘W sitting’ a sign of?
Femoral anteversion, one of the causes of in-toeing
What is clubfoot?
Congenital deformity where the foot is rotated inwardly at the ankle.
Treatment of clubfoot?
Use plaster and braces to realign the foot, takes several months.
Or in severe cases surgery
What is developmental dysplasia of the hip?
AKA hip dysplasia
Actually a spectrum of disorders ranging from subluxation (partial dislocation) to frank dislocation of the hip
What does subluxation mean?
Partial dislocation of a joint
Treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip?
If picked up early can be managed conservatively
If picked up late, more complex, may require surgery
Children are screened for developmental dysplasia of the hip at 6 months. True or false?
False
They are screened as part of the routine examination of the newborn.
How would a older infant present with developmental dysplasia of the hip?
A limp or abnormal gait
Asymmetrical skin folds around hip
Shortening of affected leg
Limited abduction of hip
Most cases of developmental dysplasia of the hip resolve themselves. True or false?
True