Orthopaedics Flashcards
Cervical Spondylosis
Degenerative changes of the cervical spin (e.g. annulus fibrosis and bony spurs)
narrow the spinal canal and intervertebral foramina
- usually asymptomatic but can cause neck and arm pain with parasthesiae
5-10% symptomatic patients develop cevical myelopathy
Cervical spondylolisthesis
Displacement of one vertebra onto the one below
Causes of cervical spondylolisthesis
- congenital failure of fusion of the odontiod process in the axis or fracture of the odontoid process (skull, atlas and odontoid slip forward on the axis)
- inflammation softens the transverse ligament of the atlas e.g. RA or complicating throat infection
- Instability after injury
Treatment of cervical spondylolisthesis
traction
immobilisation in plaster jacket
spinal fusion
Prolapsed cervical disc
Central protrusions give symptoms of spinal cord compression
posterolateral protrusions may cause a stiff neck, pain radiating to the arm, weakness of muscles affected by the nerve root and depressed reflexes
Investigating prolapsed discs
MRI
Treating prolapsed disc
NSAIDs
Collar (if cervical)
Physio to restore mobility
surgery if indicated by MRI findings
Rotator cuff tears
tears in supraspinatus, subscapularis and infraspinatus
- insidious & degeneration in the elderly, after trauma in the young
- night pain
-USS and MRI are helpful
Surgery
Shoulder impingement syndrome
causes
- Supraspinatus tendinopathy
- Calcifying tendinopathy - acute calcific arthropathy. Physio, NSAIDs, steroid injection
- Acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis- common in young weight lifters. Rest, NSAIDs, steroids.
Rupture of long head of biceps
discomfort- something has gone wehn lifting or pulling
ball appears in the muscle on elbow flexion (popeye)
Long head of biceps tendinopathy
pain in anterior shoulder
characteristically on forced contraction of biceps
Pain relief, corticosteroid injection
Lateral epicondylitis
tennis elbow
inflammation where common extensor tendon arises from lateral epicondyle of humerus
Lateral epicondylitis
presentation
clear history of repetitive strain
pain felt at the from of lateral condyle exacerbated when tendon is stretched
Treatment
lateral epicondyitis
rest
6-24 months
physio
Medical epicondylitis
golfers elbow
inflammation of the forearm flexor muscles at their origin on the medial epicondyle
pain exacerbated by pronation and forearm flexion
Olecranon bursitis
students elbow
traumatic bursitis from pressure on elbows
pain and swelling behind the olecranon
may develop into septic bursitis if overlying cellulitis
ulnar neuritis
cubital tunnel syndrome
osteoarthritis or rheumatoid narrowing of the ulnar groove and constriction of the ulnar nerve as it passes behind the medial epicondyle
- decreased sensation over little finger and medial half of ring finger
Surgical decompression
Dupuytren’s contracture
progressive, painless fibrotic thickening of palmar fascia with skin puckering and tethering
- ring and little fingers- bilateral and symmetrical
- may have MCP join flexion
- if interphalangeal joints are affected hand may be quite disabled
Treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture
Early - injection of clostridium histolyticum or percutaneous needle fasciotomy
Later- fasciectomy
Ganglia
smooth, multiocular swellings with cysts containing jelly like fluid
communicate with joint capsules or tendon sheaths
treatment not needed unless causing pain or pressure
Trigger finger
tendon nodules
caused by swelling of flexor tendon or tightening of the sheath
ring and middle fingers most commonly affected
Kyphosis
excessive curvature of the spine in the sagittal planne
- typically thoracocervical spine
- less common than scoloiosis but potentially more dangerous with dislocations–> cord compression
Scoliosis
lateral spinal curvature
secondary spinal vertebral rotation
- idiopathic (infantile, juvenile, adolescent or adult onset)
- neuromuscular (neuropathic or myopathic)
- syndromic (e.g. Marfan’s, neurofibromatosis)
- other- tumour, osteoporosis, infection
lumbar disc prolapse
severe pain brought on by coughing, sneezing or twisting a few days after back sprain
signs- forward flexion and extension limited ± lateral flexion
- calf pain, weak foot plantar flexion, reduced pinprick sensation = S1