Orthopaedics Flashcards
State 4 commonly affected joints in osteoarthritis
Hips
Knees
Distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints in the hands
Carpometacarpal (CMC) joint at the base of the thumb
Lumbar spine
Cervical spine (cervical spondylosis)
what are the x-ray findings in osteoarthritis?
L – Loss of joint space
O – Osteophytes (bone spurs)
S – Subarticular sclerosis (increased density of the bone along the joint line)
S – Subchondral cysts (fluid-filled holes in the bone)
what are hand signs of osteoarthritis?
Heberden’s nodes (in the DIP joints)
Bouchard’s nodes (in the PIP joints)
Squaring at the base of the thumb (CMC joint)
Weak grip
Reduced range of motion
what lifestyle changes can be advised in osteoarthritis?
Therapeutic exercise
Weight loss if overweight
Occupational therapy
what is the medical management of osteoarthritis?
Topical NSAIDs first-line for knee osteoarthritis
Oral NSAIDs where required and suitable (co-prescribed with a proton pump inhibitor for gastroprotection)
Intra-articular steroid injections
Joint replacement
what are the 3 main options for joint replacement?
Total joint replacement – replacing both articular surfaces of the joint
Hemiarthroplasty – replacing half of the joint (e.g., the head of the femur in the hip joint)
Partial joint resurfacing – replacing part of the joint surfaces (e.g., only the medial joint surfaces of the knee)
what is a compound fracture?
skin is broken and the broken bone is exposed to the air
what is a stable fracture?
sections of bone remain in alignment at the fracture
what is a Colle’s fracture?
transverse fracture of the distal radius
fall onto an outstretched hand
what are some early complications of fractures?
Damage to local structures (e.g., tendons, muscles, arteries, nerves, skin and lung)
Haemorrhage leading to shock and potentially death
Compartment syndrome
Fat embolism (see below)
Venous thromboembolism (DVTs and PEs) due to immobility
what are some long term complications of fracture?
Delayed union (slow healing)
Malunion (misaligned healing)
Non-union (failure to heal)
Avascular necrosis (death of the bone)
Infection (osteomyelitis)
Joint instability
Joint stiffness
Contractures (tightening of the soft tissues)
Arthritis
Chronic pain
Complex regional pain syndrome
how long after a fracture does a fat embolism typically present?
24-72 hours
What criteria is used to diagnose a fat embolism?
Gurd’s criteria
major criteria:
Respiratory distress
Petechial rash
Cerebral involvement
how long after a hip fracture should you aim to perform surgery?
within 48 hours
Hip fractures can be categorised into:
Intra-capsular fractures
Extra-capsular fractures
what classification is used for Intra-capsular neck of femur fractures?
Garden classification
what is an intra-capsular fracture?
break in the femoral neck, within the capsule of the hip joint. This affects the area proximal to the intertrochanteric line
how is an intertrochanteric fracture treated?
dynamic hip screw
how is a subtrochanteric fracture treated?
intramedullary nail
what are the 3 surgical options for managing an intra-capsular fracture?
Internal fixation
Hemiarthroplasty
Total hip replacement
what are the presenting features of a hip fracture?
Pain in the groin or hip, which may radiate to the knee
Not able to weight bear
Shortened, abducted and externally rotated leg
what is a key sign of a fractured neck of femur on x-ray?
Disruption of Shenton’s line
what is compartment syndrome?
pressure within a fascial compartment is abnormally elevated, cutting off the blood flow to the contents of that compartment.
what are the presenting features of acute compartment syndrome? (5)
P – Pain “disproportionate” to the underlying injury, worsened by passive stretching of the muscles
P – Paresthesia
P – Pale
P – Pressure (high)
P – Paralysis (a late and worrying feature)
what can be used to measure the compartment pressure in compartment syndrome?
Needle manometry
what is the initial management of acute compartment syndrome?
Escalating to the orthopaedic registrar or consultant
Removing any external dressings or bandages
Elevating the leg to heart level
Maintaining good blood pressure (avoiding hypotension)
what is the definitive management of acute compartment syndrome?
Emergency fasciotomy
what is the most common cause of osteomyelitis?
Staphylococcus aureus
State 4 risk factors for osteomyelitis
Open fractures
Orthopaedic operations, particularly with prosthetic joints
Diabetes, particularly with diabetic foot ulcers
Peripheral arterial disease
IV drug use
Immunosuppression
how does osteomyelitis present?
Fever
Pain and tenderness
Erythema
Swelling
what are the potential signs of osteomyelitis on x-ray?
Periosteal reaction (changes to the surface of the bone)
Localised osteopenia (thinning of the bone)
Destruction of areas of the bone
what is the best imaging option for diagnosing osteomyelitis?
MRI
what is the management of osteomyelitis?
Surgical debridement of the infected bone and tissues
Antibiotic therapy e.g. 6w flucloxacillin
what are the presenting symptoms of sarcoma?
A soft tissue lump, particularly if growing, painful or large
Bone swelling
Persistent bone pain
State 3 causes of mechanical back pain
Muscle or ligament sprain
Facet joint dysfunction
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
Herniated disc
Spondylolisthesis
Scoliosis
Degenerative changes (arthritis)
what do the nerves of the cauda equina supply?
Sensation to the lower limbs, perineum, bladder and rectum
Motor innervation to the lower limbs and the anal and urethral sphincters
Parasympathetic innervation of the bladder and rectum
Name 3 causes of cauda equina
Herniated disc (the most common cause)
Tumours, particularly metastasis
Spondylolisthesis
Abscess (infection)
Trauma
what are some red flags for cauda equina ?
Saddle anaesthesia
Loss of sensation in the bladder and rectum
Urinary retention or incontinence
Faecal incontinence
Bilateral sciatica
Bilateral or severe motor weakness in the legs
Reduced anal tone on PR examination
what is the management of cauda equina?
Immediate hospital admission
Emergency MRI scan
Neurosurgical input to consider lumbar decompression surgery
what are the typical symptoms of spinal stenosis
gradual onset
Lower back pain
Buttock and leg pain
Leg weakness
How is spinal stenosis diagnosed?
MRI
what is the management of spinal stenosis?
Exercise and weight loss (if appropriate)
Analgesia
Physiotherapy
Decompression surgery where conservative treatment fails
Meralgia paraesthetica is caused by compression of what nerve ?
lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
what are the symptoms if meralgia paraesthetica?
sensory changes to skin of upper-outer thigh
Burning
Numbness
Pins and needles
Cold sensation
may also be localised hair loss
Symptoms are aggravated by walking or standing for a long duration and improve when sitting down
Symptoms are often worse with extension of the hip
what is the management of meralgia paraesthetica?
Conservative -> rest, looser clothing, weight loss, physio
Medical -> Paracetamol, amitriptyline, NSAIDs
Surgical -> decompression, transection, resection
what is trochanteric bursitis?
inflammation of a bursa over the greater trochanter on the outer hip
How does trochanteric bursitis present?
gradual-onset lateral hip pain (over the greater trochanter) that may radiate down the outer thigh
worse with activity, standing after sitting for a prolonged period and trying to sit cross-legged
tenderness over the greater trochanter