Orthopaedics Flashcards
What are some features of mechanical back pain?
Generally worsens with movement and prolonged standing
Better with rest, EMS < 30min
What are the most common areas of nerve impingement in the back?
L4/L5, L5/S1
What are some Red flags in lower back pain?
Saddle anaesthesia, reduced anal tone, hip or knee weakness, generalised neuro deficit, bladder and bowel dysfunction, progressive spinal deformit
Following sigificant trauma, immunocompromised/ DM/ HIV/ IV drug use, Hx of malignancy, thoracic back pain, non-mechanical (worse at night and on rest), systemic (fever, rigors, weight loss, malaise), recent significant infection
At what level does the spinal cord end?
L1/L2
What is a slipped upper femoral epiphysis?
Fracture through the femoral physis, causing the epiphysis to slip posteriorly and inferiorly
~10-16 year olds
How might someone with a slipped upper femoral epiphysis present?
Complaining of groin pain that goes down to thigh or knee
Limp, pain on movement especially internal rotation and reduced ROM, shortened and externally rotated hip, localised tenderness around the hip joint
What features on X-ray would you see in a SUFE?
Disruption of Shenton’s line
Disruption of Kleins line (trethowans sign)
Widening of physis and smaller looking epiphysis
Steel sign (shadow behind the superior femoral neck)
More prominent lesser trochanter due to being in ER
What are common areas affected by osteonecrosis?
Hip and shoulder
How might a patient with osteonecrosis present?
Pain
Groin pain worse with weight bearing and motion
Rest ± night pain
What are some risk factors for osteonecrosis?
Alcohol abuse, history of trauma, especially dislocation, sickle cell anaemia/ haemoglobinopathies, cushings disease or corticosteroid use
HIV, renal disease, SLE, bisphosphonates
What is the T score?
The number of SD below the mean someones BMD is compared to a young healthy adult’s BMD
-1- (-2.5) = osteopenia
What is the Z score?
The number of SD below the mean someones BMD is compared to the mean for their age
What management is available for osteoporosis?
Lifestyle measures
Vitamin D and calcium
Bisphosphonates * = Alendronate, risedronate, zolendronic acid
Calcitonin, Teriparatide
Denosumab, strontium ranelate, raloxifene
What is a Holstein-Lewis fracture?
Spiral fracture of the distal 1/3 of the humeral shaft with a radial nerve palsy
What is subacrominal impingement and how might it present?
Inflammation of the subacromial bursa
Insidious onset of shoulder pain, worse on overhead activities ± night pain
What examination findings would you see in subacromial impingement?
Painful arc - pain between 60 - 120 degress
Hawkins test - pain on passive forward flexion to 90 and internal rotation
Neer impingement sign - pain on passive forward flexion >90
What might you think of is someone complains of shoulder pain worse with overhead activities?
Rotator cuff injury such as a tear or subacromial impingement
What position may the arm sit in, in shoulder dislocation?
ER and abducted slightly
What is rickets and osteomalacia?
Defective bone mineralisation leading to soft bones
Rickets is before the growth plates fuse