MSK-Derm Clinical Medicine Flashcards
What equation would you use to determine the probability a patient has a disease, given their pre-test probability, positive test, and LR+ of the positive test?
- Convert pre-test probability to pre-test odds
- Pre-test odds = probability / (1 - probability)
- Multiply pre-test odds by LR+ of the test to get post-test odds
- Convert post-test odds to probability
- Post-test probability = post-test odds / (1 + post-test odds)
What is considered “abnormal” in the animal naming test?
<12 animals or repeated animals in 1 minute
What is the Varus Stress Test used for?
Describe the test
Test for LCL tear
- Patient supine, knee flexed 30 degrees. Place one hand on medial knee, pull laterally, while pushing medially at the ankle with the other
- Attempt to push into a varus position
- Positive test
- Pain along the lateral knee or laxity compared to the other side

What percentage of community dwelling older adults will fall every year?
33%
List some of the screening tools for dementia
- MOCA - Montreal Cognitive Assessment
- Mini-Cog
- Three item recall at one minute + clock completion
- Animal naming
- MMSE - Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (no longer used)
Given sensitivity and specificity, what is the equation for LR-?
LR- = (1 - sensitivity) / specificity
A CRP >____ is considered representative of inflammation
A CRP >10 is considered representative of inflammation
What are the modifiable risk factors for falls?
How can they be mitigated?
- Orthostasis
- Increase hydration, decrease meds
- Gait and balance disorder
- PT, tai chi
- Vision impairment
- Opthalmology referral
- Polypharmacy
- Review and reduce meds
- Environmental hazards
- Home safety assessment; get rid of throw rugs, instal grab bars
What are the principles of universal design?
- Equitable use
- Flexible use
- Simple, intuitive use
- Perceptible information
- Tolerance for error
- Low physical effor
- Size and space approach and use
Something designed for people with disabilities will be accessible to everyone
The Achilles reflex corresponds to which nerves?
S1
What questions should you ask a patient to screen for incontinence?
- Have you had any problems with bladder or urine control?
- Do you ever lead urine when you lift something, cough, or sneeze?
- Do you have a sudden urge to urinate and then leak before you can reach the bathroom?
Don’t ask about “accidents”
In which blood compartment will you find acute phase proteins?
Plasma
Which of the following is NOT a cardinal sign of inflammation?
A. Warmth
B. Stiffness
C. Loss of function
D. Redness
E. Pain
B. Stiffness
In medicine, when would we want to calculate an incremental cost-benefit ratio?
Any time a new treatment becomes available, and we want to decide if we should use it
Describe the CRP test
- Direct or indirect?
- What does it measure?
- How?
- Direct
- C-reactive protein
- Sensitive, automated test
What aspects of social history are important specifically for geriatric patients?
- Children/grandchildren?
- Who do you live with currently?
- Help at home?
- Hours/days per week?
- How is this paid for?
- Don’t forget social history!
- Sex, drugs, alcohol
How do we normalize all costs to present day value when we are doing an incremental cost-effectiveness analysis?
Discounting
The standard is to use a discount rate of 3%
This is not the sames inflation - it includes inflation as well as opportunity cost
Describe the international classification of functioning, disability, and health
This classification puts the notions of health and disability in a new perspective. Every human can experience a decrement in health and therefore some form of disability at some point in their life. Disability is part of the universal human experience
What is the pretest probability of osteomyelitis in a patient with diabetes?
15%
What does patellar ballotement test for?
Describe the test
Determine if a patient has a knee effusion
- With knee extended, push the patella sharply against the femur
- Positive test:
- Fisible and palpable fluid returning to the suprapatellar pouch
What weight in an older adult may be indicative of malnutrition?
Weight <100 lbs or BMI <20
What are the normal ranges for ESR?
Male: Age/2
Female: (Age + 10)/2
Femal sex tends to elevate ESR, independently of acute phase reactants
What are the advantages of CRP over ESR?
- CRP is more sensitive than ESR
- ESR can be affected by factors independent of acute phase protein levels
- ESR must be run within 2 hours of collection, while CRP is stable for 11 days at room temperature, and 2 months in the fridge
Note: one advantage of ESR is that it’s cheaper
What test assesses a patient’s fall risk?
Describe the test. What do the results mean?
The Timed Up & Go (TUG) Test
- Patient is asked to rise from a chair, walk 10 feet, turn around, walk back to the chair, and sit down
- Can use asssistive device if used normally
- Assess for pace, balance, stride length, shuffling, arms swing, proper use of assistive device
If >12s, high risk of falls and 34% chance of losing 1 ADL in the next year








