musculoskeletal system Flashcards
Common Pathologies of Bone
Fractures Osteoporosis Arthritis Osteomyelitis Tumours
Fractures
Result of trauma
Can occur in healthy bone or in bone which is otherwise diseased eg. deposit of cancer in bone weakening the bone
Fracture treatment
Aim to realign bone to allow good function after healing.
This can be achieved with a plaster cast +/- surgery depending on the fracture
Fracture Healing
Immediately after fracture rupture of blood vessels causes haematoma which fills the fracture gap
This also provides a fibrin mesh work to allow formation of granulation tissue
Inflammatory cells release cytokines to activate osteoblasts and osteoclasts
Development of cartilage cap (callous) ~1week
Bone deposition begins to strengthen callous
Repair tissue reaches maximum girth ~2-3 weeks
Fracture Healing obstacles
If bones not aligned
If area not immobilised
If fracture site contains dead bone
Infection
Osteoporosis
Decrease in bone mass and density Can lead to fractures Very common – 3 million people in UK Imbalance between bone resorption and bone production Inadequate peak bone mass Excess bone resorption Inadequate bone production
Osteoporosis causes
Hormonal influences- lack of oestrogen (eg. post-menopausal) increases bone resorption and decreases new bone formation
Calcium metabolism and Vitamin D deficiency can also hinder bone formation
Osteoporosis treatment
NICE guidelines
Alendronic acid – bisphosphonate that prevents osteoclast activity
Arthritis
Arthritis’ means inflammation of a joint
Characterised by pain, swelling, stiffness
May be redness (erythema) and warmth over the joint
Restricted movement
‘Arthropathy’ means joint disease or disorder
Classification of Arthritis
OSTEOARTHRITIS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS Gouty Arthritis Seronegative Spondyloarthropathies - Ankylosing spondylitis - Reactive arthritis - Psoriatic arthritis Infectious arthritis Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Arthritis secondary to systemic disease
OSTEOARTHRITIS
Most common
Associated with increasing age and obesity
Progressive deterioration
Usually in weight-bearing joints
Most cases primary – no initiating cause
Secondary – at any age with previous joint trauma or congenital abnormality
OSTEOARTHRITIS risk factors
Increasing age Female sex, menopause Obesity Pre-existing joint deformity Excess mechanical stress, e.g. professional sportspeople, miners, farmers Genetic susceptibility or family history Hypermobility Other diseases (Secondary OA)
OSTEOARTHRITIS pathogenesis
‘wear and tear’
Breakdown of articular cartilage
Underlying bone exposed
Fragments of cartilage can fall into the joint
Bony thickening and outgrowths (osteophytes) develop
features of OSTEOARTHRITIS
Morning stiffness Pain, worse with movement Reduced range of movement Progressive reduction in mobility Joint effusions (fluid) Crepitus
Rheumatiod Arthiritis
Affects about 1% of the population
Women affected 3 times more than men
Familial association
Link with HLA (human leukocyte antigen)