MSK conditions Flashcards
what kind of condition is rheumatoid arthritis and what does it affect
autoimmune condition- affects the synovium (specialised connective tissue that lines inner surface of synovial joint capsules)
-chronic destruction of synovial lining of joints + tendon sheaths + bursa
is RA symmetrical and does it affect multiple or just one joint
symmetrical + affects multiple joints
- symmetrical polyarthritis
list 4 risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis
women (x3 mc. then M)
30-50 yrs
FHx
other autoimmune disorders
where does RA most commonly affect
wrist/hand, feet, knee, hip
symptoms of RA
joint pain- worse in morn, usually lasts more than 30 mins- gets better as day goes on + w movement
symmetrical distal polyarthropathy
fatigue
wt. loss
malaise
aches + cramps
signs of RA
swan neck thumb/fingers
Z shaped thumb
boutonniere deformity (button hole)
ulnar deviation
rhuematoid nodules
what are some extra-articular presentations of RA
Rheumatoid nodules (firm, painless lumps under the skin, typically on the elbows and fingers)
Lymphadenopathy
Carpel tunnel syndrome
Amyloidosis
Bronchiolitis obliterans (small airway destruction and airflow obstruction in the lungs)
Sjorgen’s
pulmonary fibrosis
anaemia of chronic disease
1st line investigations for RA
clinical exam
serology: anti CCP (positive) + Rheumatoid factor (positive- not diagnostic)
bloods: anaemia, CRP/ESR increased
x-ray= LESS
L- loss of joint space
E- erosions
S- soft tissue swelling
S- see through bones (osteopenia)
gold standard investigations for RA
clinical diagnosis + serology + inflammatory markers
management of RA (1st,2nd,3rd)
- Monotherapy with cDMARDS eg. methotrexate, leflunomide or sulfasalazine
- Combination treatment with multiple cDMARDs
- Biologic therapies (usually alongside methotrexate) eg infliximab, rituximab, etanercept
can use NSAIDS for pain
what kind of a disorder is osteoarthritis
degenerative joint disorder (it’s not inflammatory) @ synovial joints due to a combo of genetic factors + overuse & injury
what causes structural issues in the joint in osteoarthritis
an imbalance between cartilage breakdown vs chondrocytes repairing the joint leads to structural issues in joint
which joints are commonly affected in osteoarthritis
hips
knees
fingers
thumb
cervical spine
list 5 risk factors for osteoarthritis
high intensity labour
old age
female
obesity
genetic
presentation of osteoarthritis
painful joints- stiff for less than 30 mins in the morn, becomes worse throughout day + with activity
proximal Bouchard nodes (middle of joint)
distal heberden nodes (closet 2 fingernail)
squaring @ base of thumb (carpometacarpal saddle joint)
weak grip/reduced range of motion
popping/clicking on moving (crepitus)
investigations for osteoarthritis
x-ray= LOSS
L- loss of joint space
O- osteophytes (bony lumps)
S- subchondral sclerosis (increased density of bone along joint line
S- subchondral cysts (fluid filled holes in bone)
management of osteoarthritis
patient education + lifestyle changes- wt. loss, physio, orthotics
analgesia:
1. paracetamol, topical NSAIDS (diclofenac), topical capsaicin
2. oral NSAIDS + PPI to protect stomach
3. opiates eg codeine + morphine
-intra-articular injections
-joint replacement surgery
what are 2 types of crystal arthritis
gout & psuedogout
describe gout
chronically high uric acid levels= build up causes urate crystals to be precipitated out and deposited in joints- causing them to become hot + swollen + painful
what are gouty tophi
SC uric acid deposits typically affecting small joints + connective tissues of hands, elbows and ears
list 4 risk factors for gout
increase in purines in diet (meat + seafood)
increased cell turnover
CKD
diuretics
presentation of gout
monoarticular (often big toe/DIPs/wrist/thumb)
acute, swollen, hot painful joints
tophi- SC deposits of uric acid affecting small joints + tissues
investigations for gout
joint aspiration (increased uric acid) + polarised light microscopy- MONOSODIUM URATE CRYSTALS, NEEDLE-SHAPED AND NEGATIVELY BIREFRINGENT of polarised light
others= joint x-ray- maintained joint space, lytic lesions, punched out erosions w. sclerotic borders or overhanging edges
management of gout (lifestyle changes, acute flares, prevention)
lifestyle changes: decreased purines, more dairy
acute flare= 1st NSAIDS, 2nd colchicine, 3rd corticosteroids
prevention= allopurinol (xanthine oxidase inhibitor > reduces uric acid)
what is pseudogout
damage 2 joint caused by the formation of calcium pyrophosphate crystals- deposited in joints
list 6 risk factors for psuedogout
females 70+
hyper(para)thyroidism
excess Fe or Ca
diabetes
metabolic diseases
presentation of psuedogout
older adult w.
symptoms= hot, swollen, tender joint- usually knees
signs= recent injury to joint in Hx
investigations for psuedogout
joint aspiration + polarised light:
-RHOMBOID SHAPED CRYSTALS
-POSITIVE BIREFRINGENT OF POLARISED LIGHT
-Ca PHOSPHATE CRYSTALS
x-ray= chondrocalcinosis (thin white line in middle of joint space caused by Ca deposition)
management of psuedogout
symptoms usually resolve spontaneously over several weeks
if symptomatic:
-NSAIDS
-colchicine
-corticosteroids/intra-articular steroid injections
what is osteoporosis (and osteopenia)
osteoporosis= reduction in bone density
osteopenia= less severe reduction in bone density
-increases likelihood of fractures
risk factors for osteoporosis (SHATTERED)
Steroids
Hyper(para)thyroidism
Alcohol + tabacco use
Thin (BMI <18.5)
Testosterone
Early menopause- women after menopause (oestrogen= protective)
Renal/liver failure
Erosive/inflammatory bone disease eg myeloma
Dietary low Ca/malabsorption
which 2 investigations would you do for osteoporosis
DEXA bone scan- measures bone mineral density- measure @ hip
T score=
normal= T >-1
osteopenia= T= -1 to -2.5
osteoporosis= T<-2.5
FRAX score- 10yr probability of major osteoporotic fracture/hip fracture
management of osteoporosis
Lifestyle: excercise, wt. loss, decrease alcohol + smoking, avoid falls
1st= vit D + Ca supplementation
bisphosphonates (reduce osteoclast activity) eg dendronate, ritendronate, zolendronic acid
2nd= denosumab (monoclonal antibody that blocks activity of osteoclasts)
HRT- esp 4 early menopausal women
describe spondyloarthropathies
group of chronic inflammatory diseases- mc affect sacroiliac joint + axial skeleton
- all associated with HLA B27 gene
name 4 spondyloarthropathies
ankylosing spondylitis
psoriatic arhritis
reactive arthritis
enteric arhritis
list the common features of spondyloarthropathies (SPINE ACHE)
Sausage fingers (dactylitis)
Psoriasis
Inflammatory back pain
NSAIDs (have good response to them)
Enthesitis (heel)
Arthritis
Crohn’s/colitis/CRP (elevated but can be norm)
HLA B27
Eye (uvetitis)
describe ankylosing spondylitis
chronic inflammatory disorder- mainly affects sacroiliac joints + vertebral column + causes progressive stiffness & pain
inflammatory arthritis of spine + ribcage= formation on new bone + stiffness of joints
presentation of ankylosing spondylitis
progressively worse lower back pain + stiffness (worse w rest- improves w movement)
worse @ morning + night
sacroiliac pain (buttock region)
flares of worsening symptoms
decreased lumbar flexion due 2
fusion of spine + sacroiliac joints
anterior uvetitis
dactylitis
enthesitis (inflammation of where tendon/ligament meets bone)
1st line investigations for ankylosing spondylitis
CRP + ESR increased
HLA B27 genetic test
Schober’s test
gold standard investigation for ankylosing spondylitis
x-ray of spine + sacrum:
-bamboo spine
-sacroilitis
-squaring of vertebral bodies
-subchondral sclerosis and erosions
management of ankylosing spondylitis
NSAIDS (naproxen, indomethacin, ibuprofen)
steroids during flares
anti-TNF drugs eg etanercept ,infliximab
physio + lifestyle advice
surgery 4 deformities
describe psoriatic arthritis and what screening tool is used
inflammatory arthritis associated w psoriasis (1/5 w psoriasis have it- annual screening tool= PEST TOOL)
presentation of psoriatic arthritis
inflammatory joint pain
plaques of psoriasis- behind ear, nails, scalp
onycholysis (separation of nail from nail bed)
dactylics
enthesitis
nail pitting
anterior uvetitis
conjunctivitis
aortitis
amyloidosis
1st line investigations for psoriatic arthritis
CRP/ESR raised
rheumatoid factor=negative
anti-CCP= negative
joint aspiration= negative
gold standard investigation for psoriatic arthritis
joint x-ray:
-erosion in DIP joints
-osteolysis + dactylics
-pencil in cup deformity- central erosions of bone beside joint> 1 bone appears hollow + other bone = narrow + sits up in cup like a pencil
management of psoriatic arthritis
NSAIDs for pain (naproxen, ibuprofen, indomethacin)- intra-articular corticosteroid injection if severe
DMARDS (methotrexate, sulfasalazine)
TNF inhibitor (etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab)
complications of psoriatic arthritis
arthritis mutilans- most severe form of arthritis - osteolysis of bones around joints in digits> progressive shortening> skin folds as digit shortens > telescopic finger
describe reactive arthritis
immune-mediated response to certain GI or GU infections eg shigella, chlamidiya, campylobacter jejuni
presentation of reactive arthritis
symptoms begin 1-4 weeks after infection
asymmetrical oligoarthritis (joint swelling + stiffness in large joint eg knee)
painful, swollen, red + stiff joints
dactylitis
classic triad= conjunctivitis + urethritis + arthritis (can’t see, can’t pee, can’t climb a tree)
Reiter’s syndrome
investigations for reactive arthritis
ESR + CRP= raised
ANA= negative
rheumatoid factor= negative
x-ray= sarcolitis (pain in joints) or enthesopathy (inflamed entheses)
joint aspirate= negative (excludes septic arthritis + gout)
management of reactive arthritis
1st= Abxs, until septic arthritis excluded
NSAIDS= naproxen, ibuprofen, indomethacin
steroid injections into affected joints
DMARDS (sulfasalazine)
TNF inhibitors
what is enteric arthritis/ IBD associated arthritis
arthritis secondary to IBD
bacterial aetiology
which joints does enteric arthritis mainly affect
peripheral joints, esp lower limbs
presentations of enteric arthritis
asymmetric joint involvement
bone deformity
painful, red, hot, swollen joints
stiffness + reduced motion
SPINE ACHE
(IBD associated Sx)
abdo pain
blood in stool
diarrhoea
wt. loss
1st line investigations for enteric arthritis
joint aspiration
stool culture
colonoscopy + biopsy
increased faecal- calprotectin
FBC- anaemia- malabsorption, increased WCC, CRP/ESR increased
joint x-ray
gold standard investigations for enteric arthritis
clinical diagnosis + symptoms + medical history
management of enteric arthritis
DMARDs- methotrexate, leflunomide, sulfasalazine
NSAIDs= naproxen, ibuprofen, indomethacin
TNF inhibitors= etanercept, infliximub
treat UC/crohn’s
what are 2 types of infective arthritis
septic arthritis
osteomyelitis
what is septic arthritis
infection of 1 or more joints caused by pathogenic inoculation of microbes- via either direct inoculation or haematogenous spread
!emergency!
name 4 bacterias that can cause septic arthritis
staphylococci (mc)
streptococci
N. gonorrhoea
E. coli
list 7 risk factors for septic arthritis
joint replacement/joint prothesis
pre-existing joint disease
IVDU
immunosuppression
intra-articular corticosteroid injection
alcohol misuse
diabetes
presentations of septic arthritis
acutely hot, swollen. painful joint
onset <2 weeks
stiffness + decreased range of motion
mc in <4yrs/older adults
fever + lethargy
sepsis (tachycardia, HTN, cold, clammy, shaking)