MSK path Flashcards
What are risk factors for tendon ruptures?
aging, calcs, corticosteroid therapy and systemic disease like lupus, diabetes or gout
How to partial tears appear?
hypoechoic defects with fibular disruption
intrasubstance tears (most often in ankle) appear like longitudinal hypoechoic cleft
What are indirect signs of partial tears?
thickened bursa and fluid in the tendon sheath
What type of tendon tears are rare?
tears from traumas, especially complete
What are avulsions?
a forcible separation or detachment/tearing away a body part
occurs when a muscle or tendon is torn away from bone (bone fragments in muscle may be seen)
What is tendinosis? What does tendinosis have a strong relationship with?
degenerative changes without signs of inflammation
repetitive microtrauma of overuse injuries (sports)
What are the signs of tendinosis?
(what do you see?)
painful focal or diffuse nodular thickening of the tendon, most often in patellar tendon and achilles
CD shows vascularity (representing neovascularity)
How do tendinosis lesions appear?
focal or diffuse areas of decreased echogenicity and tendon enlargement
achilles: usually in middle 3rd
patellar: at upper insertion point
What is tendonitis?
edema associated with inflammation and causes thickening and decreased echogenicity of tendons (can affect whole tendon or part)
How does acute tendinitis appear?
thickened, decreased echogenicity with poorly defined margins, increased in vascularity within tendon
What rules out a tear vs tendonitis?
How does chronic tendinitis appear?
presence of blood flow rules out tear
margins are deformed and bumpy, may have intra-tendinous calcs
What is tenosynovitis?
inflammation of the tendon sheath, mot often in tendons of hand, wrist and ankle
What causes acute tenosynovitis most often?
How does it appear?
repetitive microtrauma and pyogenic infection (can be caused by FB in tendon sheath)
appears as fluid in the sheath, may have internal echoes (pus)
What type of tenosynovitis causes rapid degeneration?
suppurative: can be caused by foreign bodies
How does chronic tenosynovitis appear and what does it cause?
hypoechoic thickening of synovial sheath with little or no fluid
causes impaired tendon movement