Musc1 Flashcards
Arthritides/Rheum
What is septic arthritis?
Infection of one or more joints caused by pathogenic bacteria
What is the aetiology of septic arthritis?
Direct bacterial inoculation
Haematogenous spread
Usually Staph aureus, or Neisseria gonorrhoea
History usually <2 weeks duration
What are the risk factors of septic arthritis?
Re-existing joint disease (RA)
Immunosuppression (DM, iatrogenic)
Prosthetic joints
IVDU
What are the signs and symptoms of septic arthritis?
Acutely inflamed tender swollen joint
Decreased range of motion
Systemically unwell
Knee most commonly affected
What are the investigations for septic arthritis?
Urgent joint aspiration -Gram stain and culture -WCC Bloods -ESR/CRP, WCC, cultures Imaging -XR, MRI
What is the management for septic arthritis?
IV ABx after aspiration
Analgesia
Consider joint washout under GA
What is gout?
Acute monoarthropathy with severe joint inflammation, secondary to deposition of monosodium urate crystals
What is the aetiology of gout?
Raised uric acid
- under excretion
- over production
What are the risk factors of gout?
Male High cell turnover rate (tumour lysis syndrome, lymphoma, psoriasis) Drugs (diuretics, aspirin, cytotoxics) Alcohol excess Purine rich diet (meat, seafood) Renal impairment
What are the symptoms of gout?
Rapid-onset severe pain- worst ever
Decreased range of motion
Most commonly affects joints in feet
First metatarsaophalangeal joint (podagra)
What are the signs of gout?
Acute swollen joint Tophi over extensor joint surfaces (elbow/knee), ear helix Can present with uric acid stones -renal tract obstruction -interstitial nephritis -radiolucent on imaging
What are the investigations of gout?
Blood
-serum uric acid (may be normal in acute attack)
Synovial fluid
-polarised light microscopy
-negatively birefringent needle-shaped crystals
XR
-soft tissue swelling and joint effusion (early)
-juxta-articular ‘punched-out’ erosions
What is the management for gout?
Acute: NSAIDs, colchicine
Chronic: Conservative and allopurinol
Why should you not give allopurinol in an acute attack of gout?
Can prolong/precipitate the attack
What is pseudogout?
Inflammation of a joint, secondary to deposition of calcium pyrophosphate crystals
What are the risk factors for pseudogout?
Elderly
Hyperparathyroidism
Haemochromatosis
Osteoarthritis
What are the symptoms and signs of pseudogout?
Very similar to gout
Commonly wrist or knee
What are the investigations for pseudogout?
Synovial fluid
-polarised light microscopy
-positively birefringent rhomboid-shaped crystals
XR
-chondrocalcinosis (eg. Ca deposition in knee cartilage)
What is reactive arthritis?
A sterile arthritis, typically affecting the lower limb 1-4 weeks after urethritis/dysentery
What is the aetiology of reactive arthritis?
Post-infectious joint inflammation Chlamydia Salmonella Campylobacter Shigella Yersinia
What are the risk factors for reactive arthritis?
Male 9:1
HLA-B27 serotype
Preceding infection
What are the symptoms of reactive arthritis?
Asymmetrical oligoarthritis
Worse in the morning
Knee most commonly affected
What are the signs of reactive arthritis?
Enthesitis (Achille's tendonitis) Conjunctivitis Mouth ulcers Circinate balanitis (ring shaped dermatitis of glans penis) Keratoderma blenorragica
What is Reiter’s syndrome?
Arthritis
Urethritis
Conjunctivitis
(Can’t see, pee, or climb a tree)
What are the investigations for reactive arthritis?
Diagnosed by process of elimination
Eg. CRP, ESR, ANA, urogenital/stool culture, arthrocentesis
What is osteoarthritis?
Mechanical degradation of cartilage and underlying bone, causing inflammation and osteophyte formation
What are the risk factors for osteoarthritis?
Age >50 Female Obese Physical/manual occupation FHx of OA
Which joints are affected in osteoarthritis?
DIP PIP Thumb CMC Knees Hips
What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
Pain worse on movement
Worse at the end of the day
Stiff, esp after rest
Reduced range of movement
What are the signs of osteoarthritis?
Bouchard's nodes- PIP Heberden's nodes- DIP Thumb sparing Fixed flexion deformity Crepitus Antalgic gait