MSK and Rheumatology Flashcards
Define hemiarthroplasty
replacing half of the joint (e.g., the head of the femur in the hip joint)
What is the role of the C5 myotome?
Shoulder abduction
What is the role of the C6 myotome?
Elbow flexion
Wrist extension
What is the role of the C7 myotome?
Elbow extension
What is the role of the C8 myotome?
Flexion of fingers
What is the role of the T1 myotome?
Finger abduction
What is the role of the L2 myotome?
Hip flexion
What is the role of the L3/4 myotomes?
Knee extension
What is the role of the L4 myotome?
Ankle dorsiflexion
What is the role of the L5 myotome?
Big toe extension
What is the role of the S1 myotome?
Ankle plantar flexion
Where is the most common site for cervical disc prolapse?
C5/6
at which level is the phrenic nerve and what is the consequence of damage to this nerve?
C3-5
Damage = loss of respiratory function
What is caudal equina?
Compression of sacral nerve roots
What can cause caudal equina?
disc prolapse, tumours, trauma, spinal stenosis, infection
How is cauda equina managed?
MRI and surgery within 48 hours
How does spinal claudication present?
Bilateral sensory dysesthesia +/- weakness
What makes spinal claudication worse?
Walking down hills
What causes brown-sequard syndrome?
Heme-section of the spinal cord
How does brown-sequard syndrome present?
paralysis on the affected side (corticospinal)
loss of proprioception and fine discrimination (dorsal columns) on the affected side
loss of pain and temperature on the opposite side below the lesion (spinothalamic)
How does central cord syndrome present?
disproportionate impairment of the upper limb motor function compared to the lower limbs
What causes central cord syndrome?
arthritic changes in the neck compressing the cord
What causes anterior cord syndrome?
ischaemia to the anterior spinal artery
How does anterior cord syndrome present?
like brown squard except Fine touch and proprioception are preserved
What is spinal stenosis?
Narrowing of the spinal cord causing compression of spinal cord or nerve roots
How does spinal stenosis present?
Claudication-like feeling in buttock and leg
Bending forward improves symptoms
What is the pathophysiology behind dupuytren’s contracture?
palmar aponeurosis becomes thickened and contracted, pulling the fingers into a flexed state
What conditions is Dupuytren’s Disease associated with?
- Diabetes
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- HIV
- Epilepsy
What factors are associated with worse outcomes in those with Dupuytren’s Disease?
Family hx
Early or bilateral disease
How is Dupuytren’s Disease managed?
Surgically- cut the aponeurosis
What causes trigger finger?
Swelling on tendon catches on pulley
What tendons are involved in De Quervain’s Syndrome?
- Abductor pollicis longus (APL) tendon
- Extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) tendon
What causes De Quervain’s Syndrome?
Overuse causes the extensor reticulatum to swells causing pain in the tendon running up the thumb
What clinical sign is indicative of De Quervain’s Syndrome?
Extension of thumb against resistance will cause pain
How is De Quervain’s Syndrome managed?
Splints, steroid injections and surgical decompression of reticulatum
Name 3 of the clinical findings you may see when examining the hands of a patient with osteoarthritis
- Heberden’s nodes
- Bouchard’s nodes
- Squaring at base of thumb
In osteoarthritis, how is squaring of the base of the thumb managed?
Trapeziectomy
What are the x-ray features associated with osteoarthritis?
L-loss of joint space
O-osteophytes
S-Subchondral sclerosis (increased density of bone along the joint line)
S- Subchondral cysts (fluid filled cavities in the bone)
When would osteoarthritis be a clinical diagnosis?
> 45 years old
typical arthritic pain
and
no morning stiffness lasting >30 minutes
Which nerve roots cause erb’s palsy?
C5, 6
What causes erb’s palsy?
Downward traction (e.g. forceps)
What is erb’s palsy otherwise known as due to the way it presents?
Waiter’s tip
What nerve root is damaged in Klumpke’s palsy?
T1
What causes Klumpke’s palsy?
Upward traction (e.g. swinging from a tree)
Which nerve is damaged when there is parasthesia of the regimental badge area?
Axillary nerve
What is the most common cause of axillary nerve injury?
damage to the surgical neck of humerus
Which nerve is damaged in ‘Saturday night palsy’?
Radial nerve
How does Saturday night palsy present?
Loss of sensation and wrist extension
Which nerve is compressed in carpal tunnel syndrome (give the nerve root for extra points!)
Median nerve
C5-T1
What is cubital tunnel?
Compression of the ulnar nerve at the cubital tunnel (the space between the medial epicondyle and the olecranon)
What does cubital tunnel syndrome cause?
Numbness on the ulnar aspect of hand and arm
Which nerve (+ the roots!) is damaged in patients with pain/burning/tingling on the anteriolateral aspect of thigh
Anterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh (L2/3)
What are the nerve roots for the sciatic nerve?
L3-4
What is bilateral sciatica a red flag for?
Caudal equina
How is sciatica managed
Amitriptyline or duloxetine
What nerve (+roots!) causes foot drop
Common peroneal nerve L4-S2
What type of injury causes damage to the meniscus of the knee?
Twisting
What characteristic ‘symptoms’ indicate a meniscal injury
Knee locking or giving way
What is the best imaging modality to visualise the meniscus of the knee?
MRI
How is a meniscal injury of the knee managed?
RICE, NSAIDs, physio, surgical options if exhausted everything else
What is the function of the anterior cruciate ligament?
stops the tibia from sliding forward in relation to the femur.
What is the function of the posterior cruciate ligament?
Stops the tibia sliding backwards in relation to the femur.
How can cruciate injuries be differentiated from meniscal injuries on knee examination?
Cruciate injury causes knee instability
What is osgood-schlatter disease?
Inflammation and avulsion fractures of tibial tuberosity where patellar tendon insert
How is osgood-schlatter disease managed?
Supportive management
Prescription of which antibiotic is associates with achilles tendon rupture
fluoroquinolone antibiotics (-floxacin)
What is the inheritance pattern os Ehler’s Danlos?
Autosomal dominant
What is the most common form of ehler’s danlos syndrome?
Hypermobile
Other than hypermobile, what other types of ehler’s danlos are there?
vascular (fragile blood vessels prone to rupture)
kyphoscoliotic (poor muscle tone)
Which scoring system is used to assess Ehler’s Danlos?
Beighton score
What are gout crystals made from and how do they look under microscopy?
Monosodium urate (from purine breakdown)
Needle shaped, negatively bifringent (negative needles)
What are pseudogout crystals made from and how do they look under microscopy?
Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate
Rhomboid shaped, positively bifringent (pseudo positive)
How is gout managed 1st line?
NSAIDS
What medication should be used to treat an acute attack of gout if NSAIDs are not tolerated?
Colcechine
What medication is given to prevent gout?
Allopurinol
When should allopurinol be started for a patient with gout?
after 1st attack has settled
What should be prescribed alongside allopurinol when it is given for the first time?
colcechine for the first 6 months of allopurinol treatment as ‘cover’
What lifestyle modifications can help prevent gout?
Avoid alcohol, dehydration, red meat and being fat
What is the common x-ray finding in patients with pseudo gout?
chondrocalcinosis
How is pseudo gout managed?
NSAIDs, colcechine and steroids
What is the most common cause of osteomyelitis?
Staph aureus
How long should antibiotic therapy be taken for in patients with acute osteomyelitis?
4-6 weeks
What is the antibiotic of choice for a patient with an s. aureus osteomyelitis?
Flucloxacillin
Which antibiotic is used to treat chronic osteomyelitis?
Gent
What is the most common bacterial cause of septic arthritis in a patient with
A) Their own joint
B) An artificial joint
A) Own joint = S. Aureus
B) Artificial joint = S. Epidermis
How is septic arthritis managed?
Surgical drainage & lavage + 3-4 weeks of antibiotics.
How can osteoarthritis be managed?
- Paracetamol and NSAIDs
- Intra-articular joint injections
- Joint replacement
What is osteosarcoma?
Bone cancer
What is chondrosarcoma?
Cancer of the cartilage
Which demographic is most commonly affected by Ewing’s sarcoma?
Children and young adults
How does Ewing’s sarcoma look on x-ray?
Onion skin appearance
Name the tool used to assess a patient’s risk of fragility fracture in the next 10 years
FRAX tool
What is a ‘complete’ fracture
Bone is completely severed
What is a ‘greenstick’ fracture?
Snapped but not completely disconnected
What is a ‘buckle’ fracture?
Longitudinal compression
What is a ‘plastic’ bone deformity?
Bone is bent not broken
What is a physeal fracture?
A fracture involving the growth plate