MSK/rheumatology Flashcards
What is the most common arthritis?
Osteoarthritis.
What is osteoarthritis?
Non-inflammatory degenerative mechanical shearing - wear and tear.
What are the most commonly affected joints in osteoarthritis?
Hips, knees, sacro-iliac, wrists, cervical spine, thumbs.
What are seven risk factors for osteoarthritis?
Higher age, female, obesity, family history, occupation, sports, trauma.
Describe the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis.
Imbalanced cartilage breakdown and repair which leads to cartilage loss.
-Chondrocytes repair this which leads to structural issues.
How does osteoarthritis present?
Joint pain and stiffness with little morning pain but worsened as the day goes on and with exercise.
What are two signs of osteoarthritis? Where is affected?
Heberden’s (DIP) and Bouchard’s nodes (PIP) - asymmetrical, hard, non-inflamed joint.
-Affects big toe, hips and knees.
How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?
Over 45 with activity pain and no morning stiffness.
-Normal bloods.
-XRAY (LOSS).
What are the XRAY findings in osteoarthritis?
LOSS:
-Loss of joint space.
-Osteophytes.
-Subchondral sclerosis.
-Subchondral cysts.
What is the management of osteoarthritis?
-Lifestyle changes - weight loss and physio.
-NSAIDs for pain relief.
-Steroid injections.
-Last resort - Joint replacement.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Chronic inflammatory autoimmune polyarthritis which is symmetrical.
Where does RA usually affect?
Multiple joints - wrist, hand, feet.
What are the three risk factors for RA?
Women aged 30-50. Smoking. Family history - HLA-DR4, HLA-DR1.
Describe the pathophysiology of RA.
Autoantibodies:
-Rheumatoid factor (RF) autoantibody is present in 70%.
-Anti-CCP autoantibodies more sensitive and specific than RF.
How does someone with RA present?
Symmetrical distal polyarthritis (pain, swelling, hot, stiffness) that is worse on a morning and eases as the day goes on and with activity.
What are the signs of RA?
Hands - Boutonnieres deformity (flexed), swan neck deformity, Z thumb, ulnar deviation.
Extra-articular - Pulmonary fibrosis/bronchiolitis, CVD, CKD, elbow skin nodules.
How is RA investigated?
Bloods, serology, XRAY.
What are the blood and serology results of RA?
Raised ESR and CRP, normocytic normochromic anaemia.
-Positive anti-CCP and RF serology.
What are the XRAY findings on RA?
LESS:
-Loss of joint space.
-Eroded bone.
-Soft tissue swelling.
-Soft bones.
What are the first and second line medication treatments for RA?
DMARDs - methotrexate and leflunomide.
What are the 3rd and 4th line medication treatments for RA?
-Methotrexate and infliximab (anti-TNF).
-Methotrexate and rituximab (anti-CD20).
What is gout?
A crystal arthropathy associated with high blood uric acid levels.
What is the most common inflammatory arthritis in the UK?
Gout
What is the typical patient with gout?
Middle aged overweight men.
Describe the pathophysiology of gout.
Sodium urate crystal are deposited into the joint causing it to become hot, swollen and painful.
What is gouty tophi?
Subcutaneous deposits of uric acid typically affecting the small joints and connective tissues of the hands, elbows and ears.
What are the three joints most affected by gout?
-Metatarsophalangeal joints (base of big toes).
-Wrists.
-Carpometacarpal joints (base of thumbs).
What are seven risk factors of gout?
Male, obesity, family history, diuretics, alcohol, CVD/CKD, purine rich foods (meat, seafood).
What is a key differential diagnosis of gout?
Septic arthritis.
How does gout present?
Monoarticular sudden onset, severely swollen red toe that you can’t put weight on.
How is gout diagnosed?
Aspiration of fluid from the joint.
What are the results of joint aspiration in gout?
-Needle shaped crystals.
-Monosodium urate crystals.
-Negatively befringement of polarised light.
-No bacterial growth.
What is the acute treatment for gout?
1st line - NSAIDs.
2nd - Colchicine.
3rd - Steroids.
What is the prophylaxis for gout?
Allopurinol and lifestyle changes (less purines and more dairy).
What is pseudogout?
Crystal arthropathy caused by calcium pyrophosphate deposits.
What is another name for pseudogout?
Chondrocalcinosis.
Who does pseudogout usually affect?
Elderly females.
What are three risk factors for pseudogout?
Diabetes, metabolic disease, osteoarthritis.
What is the presentation of pseudogout?
Polyarticular with knee commonly affected (also hips, shoulders and wrists).
Swollen, hot and red joint.
How is pseudogout diagnosed?
Joint aspiration.
What does aspiration fluid show in pseudogout?
-Calcium pyrophosphate crystals.
-Rhomboid shaped crystals.
-Positive befringement in polarised light.
-No bacterial growth.
What does an XRAY show in pseudogout?
Same as OA - LOSS.
What is the management for pseudogout?
-Chronic changes require no management.
-Acutely: NSAIDs, colchicine, steroids.
-Severe: Joint washout.
What is osteoporosis? What is a complication?
A condition characterised by a reduction in bone density. This makes bones more weak and prone to fractures.
What is osteopenia?
A less severe reduction in bone density than osteoporosis.
Who does osteoporosis usually affect?
Post-menopausal white woman above 50y.
What are the risk factors for osteoporosis?
SHATTERED:
-Steroids, hyperthyroid/para, alcohol/smoking, thin, testosterone low, early menopause, renal/liver failure, erosive + inflammatory disease, DMT1/malabsporption.
What are the four main causes of osteoporosis?
Endocrine (Cushing’s, parathyroid).
Haematology (myeloma).
GI (malabsorption).
Iatrogenic (steroids).
What is a T score?
Young adult bone density.
0 < T < 1 is normal.
1 < T < 2.5 - Osteopenia.
T > 2.5 - Osteoporosis.
How does osteoporosis present?
With fractures:
-Femur, Colle’s (wrist), compression vertebral crush.
What is the gold standard investigation for osteoporosis?
DEXA scan - yields a T score.
After a diagnosis of osteoporosis, which score is performed?
FRAX score - fracture risk assessment tool.
What is the 1st line treatment for osteoporosis?
Bisphosphonates (alendronate) which reduce osteoclast activity.
Which supplements are given to someone with osteoporosis?
Calcium and vitamin D.
What are other treatment options for osteoporosis?
Denosumab, HRT and raloxifene.
What is septic arthritis?
A bacterial infection within a joint (native or replacement).
What is the mortality of septic arthritis?
10%.
What are the organisms that can cause septic arthritis?
S. aureus (mc).
H. influenzae (children).
Gonorrhoea (sexually active).
E. coli and pseudomonas (IVDU).
What are six risk factors for septic arthritis?
IVDU, immunosuppression, surgery, trauma, prosthetic joints, RA.
How does septic arthritis present?
Acutely inflamed, hot, red joint with fever usually at the knee.
-Extremely painful with stiffness and reduced motion.
-Fever and systemic illness.
How is septic arthritis diagnosed?
Joint aspiration then mc + s - shows bacteria.
Bloods - Raised ESR and CRP.
What are four differential diagnoses of septic arthritis?
Gout, pseudogout, reactive arthritis and haemarthrosis.
What is the management of septic arthritis?
Joint aspiration and empirical antibiotics.
NSAIDs for pain.
Describe the antibiotic management of septic arthritis.
3-6 week antibiotics:
-1st line - Flucloxacillin and rifampicin.
-MRSA, prosthetic joint, penicillin allergy - Vancomycin and rifampicin.
What is osteomyelitis?
Infection of the bone or bone marrow.
How does osteomyelitis occur?
Local - Directly to the bone due to fracture.
Haematogenous - To bone through blood after entering body from another route.
What are the organisms responsible for osteomyelitis?
S. aureus (mc - 90%).
Who is osteomyelitis most common in?
Young boys under 10y.
What are seven risk factors for osteomyelitis?
Open bone fracture, bone surgery, immunocompromised, IVDU, sickle cell anaemia, HIV, TB.
How does osteomyelitis present?
Acutely and chronic:
Pain with swelling, tenderness and refusing to bear weight.
May have fever.
What are the investigations for osteomyelitis and what their findings?
XRAY/MRI.
Bloods - Raised ESR and CRP.
BM biopsy - mc + s to ID causative organism.
What is the management of osteomyelitis?
Immbolisation and antibiotics (vancomycin).
May need surgery/drainage.
What are spondyloarthropathies?
Inflammatory seronegative (RF) arthritis associated with HLAB27.
What are the general features of spondyloarthropathies?
SPINEACHE:
-Sausage fingers, psoriasis, inflammatory back pain, NSAIDs good, enthesitis, arthritis, Crohn’s/colitis, HLAB27, eyes (uveitis).
What is ankylosing spondylitis?
Inflammatory spondyloarthropathy mainly affecting the spine with abnormal stiffening and pain.
Which joints does ankylosing spondylitis mostly affect?
Sacro-iliac joints and the vertebral column.
Describe the genetic link to ankylosing spondylitis.
Associated with HLAB27:
-90% with AS have HLAB27.
-2% with HLAB27 develop AS.
What is a complication of ankylosing spondylitis?
Vertebral fractures.
What is the typical presentation of AS?
Young male (teens/20s) with progressively worsening back stiffness. Develops over a few months and can have flare ups.
-Worse in the morning and night, improves with exercise.
What are four signs of ankylosing spondylitis?
Anterior uveitis, enthesitis, dactylitis, lumbar pathology (decreased lordosis and flexion).
What is Schober’s test?
A test to assess the mobility of the spine.
-Making marks above and below L5 vertebrae and seeing if the distance increases, if movement is restricted - AS.
What are the investigations of AS?
-Raised ESR and CRP, RF negative.
-XRAY - Bamboo spine with squared vertebral bodies and syndesmophytes.
-HLAB27 positive.
What is the management of AS?
NSAIDs and exercise for pain.
Steroids during flare ups.
Anti-TNF medications - infliximab.
What is psoriatic arthritis?
Inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis.