musculoskeletal/ neuro Flashcards
What AEDs for epilepsy w generalised tonic-clonic seizures?
Lamotrigine
sodium valproate
JIA complications
if uncontrolled, bone expansion from overgrowth
leg / digit length discrepancy
valgus deformity
advancement of bone age in wrists
chronic anterior uveitis - can lead to sever visual defect. ** regular ophthalmic screening using slit lamp indicated (esp those w oligoarticular disease)
joint flexion contracture (may lead to joint destruction/ need for replacement)
growth failure (generalised or local- premature fusion of epiphyses)
osteoporosis
infantile spasm (West syndrome)
4-6mths
triad of infantile spasm, interictal eeg pattern termed hypsarrhythmia, mental retardation
seizure pattern - violent flexor spasms of head, trunk and limbs followed by extension of arms (salaam spasms)
often multiple bursts of 20-30 spasms
Ix of osteomyelitis
FBC, WCC, CRP
Blood cultures
Xray
(may show subperiosteal new bone formation + multiple hypodense ares in metaphyseal regions)
USS
(may show periosteal elevation - ‘codmans triangle’)
MRI
(allows differentiation bewteen bone and soft tissue infection)
fitting mx
ABC DEFG
ABC approach
do not forget glucose!!
secure airway, give O2, assess B/C, check blood glucose, secure IV Access (large bore cannulae)
DDx
Infection- encephalitis, meningitis, cerebral abscess
malignancy
trauma
metabolic- hypoglycaemia, DKA
febrile convulsion
epileptic fit
pale -> falls to ground -> recovers rapidly
often after pain, discomfort, minor head injurites
due to reflex cardiac astystole secondary to increased vagal response
reflex anoxic seizure
Most common Osteomyelitis pathogen cause
Staph aureus
Strep / H influenzae also possible
Salmonella (assoc w Sickle cell anaemia - sees both staph and salmonella)
consider TB in immunodeficient child
characteristic skin rash, arthralgia, periarticular oedema, abdo pain and glomerulonephritis
often preceded by URTI
aetiology- antigen exposure increases IgA, which interacts w IgG to activate complement and are deposited in affected organs, precipitating an immune response w vasculitis

Henoch schonlein purpura
Clinical diagnosis. Ix includes FBC, renal function, urine dipstick and renal biopsy if indicated.
Risk factors for progressive renal disease are proteinuria, oedema, HTN and deteriorating renal function -> renal biopsy indicated
Most will resolve within 6 wks. NSAIDs help arthritic symptoms.
Generalised hypotonia and marked head lag.
small low set ears, upslanting palpebral fissures (upslanting eyes), prominent epicanthic folds, flat facial profile, protruding tongue
Short neck, single palmar crease, wide sandal gap between 1st and 2nd toe
Downs Syndrome T21
95% due to non-dysjunction, 2% robertsonian translocation, 2% mosaicism
learning disability
congenital heart disease- AVSD, TOF, ASD, VSD
GI - duodenal atresia, Hirschsprungs, anal atresia
increased risk of infection, DDH, OME, Alzheimers, epilepsy
diagnosis by karyotyping. By rapid FISH quicker results
Duchenne muscular dystrophy presentation
waddling gait
developmental delay (motor +/ language delay, may be global delay)
Acute painful limp differentials (3-10 yrs)
Infection (Septic arthritis, osteomyelitis)
Inflammation (Transient synovitis, JIA)
Trauma
Perthes
Malignancy (ALL)
Tx of osteomyelitis
Urgent systemic IV Abx
6 wk course
IV for 2 wks (until clinical recovery) then oral for 4
Surgical drainage if does not respond to abx therapy
affected limp initially rested in splint.
+ appropriate pain relief for child
infantile spasms prognosis
developmental regression
learning disability
may get epilepsy
Chronic intermittent limp differentials (1-3 yrs)
DDH
Talipes
Neuromuscular e.g. Cerebral palsy
JIA
EEG 3 spike wave complex cycles/ s
absence seizures
Benign intracranial HTN risk factors
obesity, triggered by drugs e.g tetracyclines, cocp, steroids
IX of reactive arthritis
FBC WCC CRP/ ESR
Xrays (normal)
Temp (low grade fever)
Benign intracranial HTN Mx
reduce weight, avoid precipitating drugs and avoid LP
Perthes Investigations
XRay of both hips (incl frog leg view)
(irregular, fragmented, sclerotic femoral head, with decreased size of head)
Bone scan
MRI

chondromalacia patellae
softening of the cartilage of the patella
teenage girls
anterior knee pain when walking up or down stairs, rising from sitting
reponds to physiotherapy
Learning difficulties, macroorchidism, macrocephaly, large ears, long face, mitral valve prolapse
Fragile X
more commonly in boys
CGG repeats

osteochondritis dissecans
pain after exercise
intermittent swelling and locking of knee
Treatment of DDH
Conservative (for newborns):
Pavlik harness.
(for 1-2 months. it is a soft positioning device that keeps the thighbone in the socket. helps tighten the ligaments around hip joint and promotes normal hip socket formation.)
Conservative (1-6 months):
Harness/ Craig’s splint
usually worn full time for at least 6 wks, then part-time for additional 6 wks.

risk factors for septic arthritis
immunocomp
joint problems/ damage
IVDU
diabetes
SCA (Salmonella)










