MSK differentials

Question 1

chronic episodic mechanical lower back pain; backache related to standing/walking a lot/sitting in one place; progressive stiffness

Answer 1

Lumbar spondylosis

Question 2

acute onset while lifting/bending; severe pain; true sciatica; neurological symptoms

Answer 2

Lumbar disc prolapse

Question 3

fever and systemic upset; rfx like injecting drug user

Answer 3

discitis

Question 4

hx of trauma; sudden onset

Answer 4

spinal fracture

Question 5

morning stiffness; pain worse on rest

Answer 5

ankylosing spondylitis

Question 6

urinary retention/incontience; feacal incontinence; bilateral leg pain; severe/progressive neurological deficit

Answer 6

cauda equina

Question 7

EMS, night pain, worse with rest

Answer 7

spondyloarthropathy

Question 8

slowly progressive symmetrical polyarthritis; small joints; deforming; early morn stiffness

Answer 8

rheumatoid arthritis

Question 9

first MTP joint MC affected; isolated swollen, hot and painful joint; hyperuricaemia

Answer 9

gout

Question 10

ass skin plaques and nail changes; early morn stiffness; many patterns of joint involvement

Answer 10

psoriatic arthritis

Question 11

systemic illness w intermittent fevers; photosensitive rash; generalised myalgia & arthralgia; other systemic sx

Answer 11

SLE

Question 12

symmetrical arthritis of lower limb joints and SI joints; early morn stiffness; sx or dx of IBD

Answer 12

enteropathic arthritis

Question 13

elderly; worse on movement and rest alleviates

Answer 13

osteoarthritis

Question 14

isolated hot, red, swollen joint; agonisingly painful; systemically unwell with fever

Answer 14

septic arthritis