Musculoskeletal injuries 3 Flashcards
SCI: Definitive management
Closed reduction- Halo traction
Surgical reduction
- Early management dèbrides bone fragments
- Late management fuses fractured vertebrae permanently
Miami J Collar- For suspected or proven stable cervical spine fracture
Spondylolisthesis (definition)
Slippage of one vertebral body over another (usually L5/S1). Usually happens so gradually that pain is just the symptom
Spondylolysis (definition)
Defect of pars interarticularis. Can lead to instability and nerve compression.
Spondylitis
Inflammation of the vertebrae, ankylosing spondylitis is the most common cause, common in patients with positive rheumatoid factors
Spondylolisthesis: S/Sx; Tx
5 types, 4 grades.
S/sx: back pain, tight hammies, lordosis/kyphosis. Gait issues. Can have neuro sx.
Tx: Usually start with NSAIDs, braces, exercises.
Spondylolysis: S/Sx; Tx
Have a defect in the pars interarticularis of the neural arch, that portion of the neural arch that connects the superior and inferior articular facets.
S/Sx: Can be asymptomatic, usually occurs in young patients, back pain with activity.
Tx: brace, PT, rest
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS): MOI; S/Sx
Autoimmune Dz. Most Pts express HLA-B27 gene
S/Sx: back pain, limb pain. Often w/ eye Sx. Pain worse at rest, better with activity. “Bamboo spine.”
Cauda Equina and Conus Medullaris Syndromes: Etiology
Chronic or acute compression of the cauda equina or the conus medullaris.
The most common causes of cauda equina and conus medullaris syndromes are the following:
- Lumbar stenosis (multilevel)
- Spinal trauma including fractures
- Herniated nucleus pulposus (cause of 2-6% of cases of cauda equina syndrome)
- Neoplasm, including metastases, astrocytoma, neurofibroma, and meningioma; 20% of all spinal tumors affect this area
- Spinal infection/abscess (eg, tuberculosis, herpes simplex virus, meningitis, meningovascular syphilis, cytomegalovirus, schistosomiasis)
Cauda Equina and Conus Medullaris Syndromes: S/Sx
Low back pain
Pain radiating into the legs
Motor weakness (important to differentiate weakness from pain causing difficulty moving)
Perineal anesthesia or “saddle anesthesia”
Bladder/bowel incontinence
Loss of sphincter tone
Cauda Equina and Conus Medullaris Syndromes: Imaging
If suspected, an MRI is required emergently to determine its presence or absence (will not be visible on CT)
Cauda Equina and Conus Medullaris Syndromes: Tx
If suspected, give dexamethasone 10mg IV
Emergent neurosurgery evaluation for possible decompression surgery
Ribs: Gross anatomy
12 pairs of ribs
First 7 articulate with spine/sternum (true ribs b/c they connect to the sternum & manubrium directly)
8-10 articulate anteriorly with costal cartilage (ie false ribs)
11 – 12 are “floating” in that they don’t articulate anteriorly
Inferior to each rib is the neurovascular bundle: nerve, artery, vein
Rib injuries: MOI
Injury can occur from all things blunt, or sometimes even from coughing or sneezing too forcefully; rarely there are pathological fractures, from a lytic or blastic lesion
Rib contusion
Relative common, from a blunt traum
Rib fracture
Most common at the postern-lateral bend of the rib (weakest point structurally)
Sternal fracture
- Rare
- Complicated occasionally by pericardial injury
Rib injuries: Assessment (5 points)
- Consider the location of the pain, so as to suggest likelihood (or lack thereof) of injury to the underlying organs
- Liver, splenic injuries
- Pneumothorax - Flail: 3 or more ribs, 2 or more places
- Pain often localized to area of Fx
- Splinting, auscultatory crepitance
- Pleuritic pain
Rib injuries: Imaging
PA/Lateral chest xray: Usually adequate and helps identify PTX, pulm contusion and wide mediastinum
Dedicated rib series: Use a bone window and allows for better visualization. *Usually not used unless can’t visualize on PA/Lat or when multiple fxs present
CT scan: Definitive
Rib injuries: Tx
Single, non-displaced: NSAIDs, spirometry Opioids should be used with caution Epidural, intercostal nerve blocks in severe cases Expected recovery is about 8 wks
Rib injuries: Hospital admission
Admit if 3 or more fractures, or those with a flail segment
Admit to the ICU if 6 or more fractures or elderly w/ 3 or more fxs
Shoulder: Gross anatomy
- Clavicle
- Scapula
3. Proximal humerus Four articular surfaces a) sternoclavicular b) acromioclavicular c) glenohumeral d) scapulothoracic
- Labrum, rotator cuff
Shoulder injuries: Common anterolateral pain
Rotator cuff tendinopathy (overuse): Pain with reaching over head
Rotator cuff tear (trauma): Pain with reaching over head associated with weakness
AC joint separation (blunt trauma): Pain with reaching over head; pain with reaching down to pick something up off the ground; seformity, easily seen on x-ray