MSK: Arthritis Flashcards
What are the major categories of arthritis?
- Degenerative
- Inflammatory
- Metabolic
What are the major types of degenerative arthritis?
- Osteoarthritis
- Neuropathic joint
What are the major types of inflammatory arthritis?
- Erosive arthritis (inflammatory osteoarthritis)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Rheumatoid variants
What are the “rheumatoid variants”?
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Reactive arthritis (i.e. Reiter’s syndrome)
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- IBD-related arthritis
What are the major types of metabolic arthritis?
- Gout
- CPPD (calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease)
- Hemochromatosis
- Milwaukee shoulder
- Hyperparathyroidism
Think neuropathic joint
Note: “Surgical like margins” of degenerative changes are really only seen in neuropathic joints.
Charcot foot, consistent with neuropathic degenerative changes (common in diabetic neuropathy)
Note: “Rocker-bottom deformity” of the mid foot due to collapse of the longitudinal arch.
What features should make you think osteomyelitis rather than neuropathic degeneration when looking at a diabetic foot radiograph?
- Presence of an ulcer or sinus tract
- Location at pressure points (e.g. metatarsal heads, interphalangeal joints, or posterior plantar aspect of the calcaneus)
Note: Diabetic neuropathic changes (Charcot foot) mostly involves the midfoot.
Gullwing deformity, suggestive of erosive osteoarthritis
Which joints are most classically involved in erosive osteoarthritis?
The distal interphalangeal joints
What are the classic general imaging features of rheumatoid arthritis?
- Marginal erosions
- Uniform joint space narrowing
- Soft tissue swelling
- Osteoporosis
Which joints are classically involved in rheumatoid arthritis?
Metacarpophalangeal joints, with relative sparing of the 1st MCP joint (usually bilateral and symmetric)
Note: RA usually spares the DIP joints (which can help differentiate it from erosive osteoarthritis).
What is the first spot to show rheumatoid arthritis changes in the feet?
The 5th metatarsal head
Isolated degenerative changes of the first CMC joint…
Think osteoarthritis
Note: Rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis often involve the carpal joints, but these usually spare the first CMC joint until late in the disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis, splenomegaly, and neutropenia…
Felty syndrome
Rheumatoid arthritis and pneumoconiosis…
Caplan syndrome
How can you differentiate osteoarthritis from rheumatoid arthritis in the hip?
The distribution of degenerative changes will be more vertical/horizontal in osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis mostly affects the superomedial joint space
Which hip is more likely osteoarthritis?
B (vertical forces narrowing the superior joint space)
Note: In A, there is more narrowing of the superomedial joint space, more suggestive of rheumatoid arthritis.
What percentage of pts with psoriasis get psoriatic arthritis?
30%
Which comes first: skin findings or psoriatic arthritis?
Skin findings (90%)
Which joints are most commonly affected in psoriatic arthritis?
Hand joints (mostly interphalangeal joints with relative sparing of the MCP joints)
Note: Feet and SI joints are also commonly involved.
Which portion of a DIP joint is usually involved first in psoriatic arthritis?
The joint margins
Note: The central joint is usually the last to go, which is what creates the pencil-in-cup deformity.
Psoriatic arthritis
Note: Pencil-in-cup deformity and sausage digits.
DIP joint degenerative changes with “fuzzy appearance” to the bone around the joint…
Think psoriatic arthritis
Note: The fuzzy appearance is due to bone proliferation.
Hand arthritis with sausage digits…
Think psoriatic arthritis (due to soft tissue swelling involving an entire finger)
Ivory phalanx, consistent with psoriatic arthritis
Pencil-in-cup deformity, consistent with psoriatic arthritis
Arrows
Finger ankylosis, which can be seen in psoriatic arthritis and erosive osteoarthritis
“Mouse ear” erosions with bony proliferation, consistent with psoriatic arthritis
Acroosteolysis
Note: This can be seen in psoriatic arthritis and other diseases.
Arthritis mutilans (when severe bone resorption leads to soft tissue telescoping/collapse)
Note: This can be seen in severe rheumatoid and severe psoriatic arthritis.
Does psoriatic arthritis tend to be symmetric or asymmetric?
Asymmetric
Note: This can help distinguish it from rheumatoid arthritis, which tends to be symmetric.
Psoriatic and reactive arthritis are both associated with…
HLA-B27
Urethritis, conjunctivitis, and arthritis…
Reactive arthritis (classic triad)
Note: “Can’t see, can’t pee, can’t climb a tree.”
Classic radiographic appearance of reactive arthritis
Very similar to psoriatic arthritis, but rarely involves the hands (reactive arthritis tends to affect things below the waist, e.g. foot joints)
Think early ankylosing sponylitis
Note: “Shiny corners.”
Ankylosing spondylitis
Note: This is the “bamboo spine.”
What is usually the first site to be involved in ankylosing spondylitis?
The sacroiliac joint (symmetric involvement)
Note: The joint actually widens before it narrows.
Next step: Pt with known ankylosing spondylitis has minor trauma to the back
Whole spine CT (bamboo spines are very susceptible to fracture)
What is the most common site of peripheral skeleton involvement in ankylosing spondylitis?
Hips (followed by shoulders)