MSK - Elbow Exam Flashcards
how would you describe the MSK elbow exam to th patient?
“I’ve been asked to do an examination of your elbow - it will involve me having a look, feel and a move of your joint.
You will have to have your shoulders and arms exposed and the examiner will act as a chaperone today - IS THIS OK?
Are you in any pain at all?
Are you able to eat by yourself and brush your hair?
How do you make the patient comfortable during an MSK elbow exam?
Use a pillow for patient to rest hands on
What is the general layout of the MSK elbow exam?
1) WIPE
2) are you in any pain? Do you have any pain in your elbow when you eat or brush your hair?
3) General inspection
4) Feel (temperature, joint)
5) Move active and passive (flex, extend, prontate, supinate, mouth, behind head)
6) conclusion
When feeling the elbow joint what do you look for?
1) Temperature
2) Palpate with thumb - radial + ulnar heads, laterial + medial epicondyles, + olecranon process.
- bony swellings = osteoarthritis
- soft, rubbery swellings = inflammatory joint disease
- tenderness?
- synovitis = inflammation of joint = warmth, swelling, tenderness
When you move the elbow joint what do you look for?
1) actively flex, extend, pronate and supinate joint
2) Passively flex , extend, pronate and supinate joint - feel for crepitus
3) hands to mouth and behind head.
loss of active movement but intact passive movement suggests muscle, tendon or nerve problem rather than joint.
*****loss of movement recorded as mild, moderate, severe.
What would loss of active movement but intact passive movement of the elbow joint indicate?
muscle, tendon or nerve problem rather than joint issue.
On general inspection of an MSK elbow exam what do you look for?
1) bedside : mobility aids, arm slings, or splints
2) Carrying angle (should be 5-15’ from body) —> varus or valgus.
3) Flexion deformity
4) Scars, rashes, muscle wasting, rheumatoid nodules, psoriatic plaques, swellings e.g. olecranon bursitis.
