Musculoskeletal injuries 4 Flashcards
Wrist gross anatomy
Radius (thicker bone along w/ thumb side) Ulna Eight carpal bones Tendons/Nerves Vessels
Six common wrist problems
Dorsal pain: sprain, carpal tunnel syndrome, fractures
Nodules: ganglion cysts
Parasthesias/Hypesthesias: carpal tunnel syndrome
Weakness/Pain: deQuervains tendinopathy
Pain/Stiffness: osteoarthritis
Trauma: sprains, fx
Wrist assessment (what to assess)
- ROM: Flexion, extension
- Nerve exam
- Assess for proper sensation across radial, median and ulnar nerve distributions
- Vascular exam
Allen’s test
Grip strength
Hoffman-Tinel Test
Finkelstein Test
Phalen/Reverse Phalen
Hoffman-Tinel Test
With wrist and fingers extended, percuss the carpal tunnel to accentuate nerve entrapment
Finkelstein Test
Assess extension of the thumb against resistance, weakness or pain suggests deQuervain’s tendinopathy or Gamekeeper’s thumb
Phalen/Reverse Phalen test
Hands pressed against each other or pressed together, compresses carpal tunnel and accentuates nerve entrapment
deQuervain’s tendinopathy: Characteristic, Assessment, Tx
- Over-use injury, a.k.a. “iPhone thumb”
- Tenosynovitis of the sheath or tunnel that surrounds two tendons that control movement of the thumb
- Detected by Finkelstein test
- Treatment: immobilization with thumb spica splint followed by steroid injection
Carpal tunnel: Characteristic, MOI, Tx
Entrapment of the median nerve
Often over-use injury, although many other risk factors are implicated
Treatment: splinting at night, physical therapy, but if these fail then carpal tunnel release surgery
Scaphoid fx: Characteristic, MOI, Assessment, Imaging, Tx
- Most common carpal fracture, although it is actually hard to see on plain films
- Must not be missed as the scaphoid is poorly vascularized and will often not heal properly if not treated correctly
- MOI: FOOSH, with pain in the wrist and hand
Snuff box tenderness (suspect fracture in anyone with classic MOI and then tenderness even if X-rays negative) - CT, MRI, Bone Scan
- Immobilize with thumb spica
*Refer to hand
Colle’s fx: Characteristic
Fracture of the distal radius, sometimes with fracture of the distal ulna or ulnar styloid
If displaced, there will be dorsal angulation of the bone fragment
Most are stable, without much angulation, others involve the articular surface, and become unstable
Distal Phalanx fx: Characteristics, MOI, imaging, Tx
Nail injuries common
Open fractures common
MOI: Crush injuries, direct blow, sharp trauma, partial amputations
Imaging: 3 views usually needed
Referral: tendon injury, sensory compromise, intraarticular fractures
Tx: Splint, ice, nailed repair as needed, antibiotics for any suspected or obvious open fracture
Colle’s fx: MOI, imaging, Tx
MOI: FOOSH
Quite apparent on X-rays, rarely require more detailed imaging
Tx varies based on stability and deformity
If stable and non-angulated, a simply volar splint is enough
If unstable or angulated, closed reduction is needed to better align the bones
If performing closed reduction, perform a hematoma block, then use traction/countertraction
Most require surgery, even after closed reduction
After closed reduction, use either volar or sugartong splint
Tenosynovitis: Characteristic, Tx
Can be inflammatory or infectious (more serious)
Infectious tenosynovitis cases should be managed with tendon sheath irrigation and drainage, with or without debridement of surrounding necrotic tissue, with antibiotics
Rarely, amputation is needed to prevent further spread
Middle phalanx fx: MOI, imaging, Tx
MOI: Direct blow
Three view plain films (AP, lateral, oblique)
Tx:
- Treatment varies on angulation, involvement of articular surfaces
- Closed reduction can be attempted after digital block
- Volar splint
- Ice
- Referral for all
Proximal phalanx fx: Characteristics, MOI, Tx, imaging
Often unstable as they involve the delicate muscles of the hand and the flexor and extensor tendons
MOI: Direct blow, hyperextension
Imaging: Three view plans films plus carefully exam
Tx:
- Closed reduction can be very challenging
- Ulnar/Radial gutter splint
- Referral for all
Subungual hematoma: Characteristics, MOI, imaging, Tx
Collection of blood under considerable pressure causing pain
MOI: direct blow to the nail
Xray to assess for fracture
Relieve pressure by trephination
Metacarpal fx: MOI, assessment, imaging, Tx
Often called a “boxer’s fracture”
MOI: Blow/Punch with closed fist
Exam: Assess for wounds over the fracture, many contaminated with oral flora
Imaging: Three view plain films
Tx
- Depends on skin integrity, degree of angulation, proximity to either end of the bone
- Closed reduction sometimes needed
- Splinting should be either radial or ulnar gutter (most common)
- Often need ORIF
Hip fx: MOI, exam, characteristics
MOI: Usually a fall, landing squarely on the hip
Physical exam: groin pain, inability to ambulate, shortening/rotation
Characters: Can be atraumatic. Can occasionally ambulate, with pain. Area of pain can be vague
Pt who needs blood transfusion from a hip fx
Anemic Pts
* You lose good amount of blood from hip fx
Hip fx: locations
- Femoral neck (intrascapsular)
- Intertrochanteric (extracapsular)
- Trochanteric