Orthopaedics - SAQ questions Flashcards
Define a chronic disease.
A chronic disease is a disease which takes a long time to develop and may last a long time. It is characterised by the bodies immune reaction producing lymphocytes in response to development of the disease.
Name the two principal symptoms in orthopaedics.
The two principle symptoms in orthopaedics are pain and stiffness (loss of normal function of joints).
What does the term ‘orthopaedics’ mean
Literally “orthopaedics ”means “straight children” but today it means the field of medicine concerned with diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Define osteoarthritis.
OA is a condition which results in excessive breakdown of articular cartilage due to an imbalance in the wear and repair of the joint, this results in pain and limitation of movement (stiffness) of the associated joint
What is the principal difference between primary and secondary arthritis?
The principle difference is that primary OA is OA which has arisen due to an unknown cause, secondary OA is OA which has arisen due to an identifiable cause
Which is more significant in arthritis - pain or stiffness?
Pain is the most significant feature in OA, stiffness is secondary
Name the three conservative measures for treating osteoarthritis.
Conservative measures for treating osteoarthritis are weight loss, use of a stick, rest and physiotherapy.
What is the principal indication for operative treatment in arthritis?
Pain is the principal indication for operative treatment.
Name four treatment options for OA
Four treatment options would be doing nothing, arthrodesis, osteotomy and arthroplasty.
Which is the most successful and common joint replacement?
Hip replacement
Name three requirements of any joint replacement.
- Functional and pain-free range of movement
- Stability
- Resistance to forces, wear and loosening
These are the 3 requirements for any joint replacement.
Name one principal difference between the requirements for an upper limb and a lower limb joint replacement.
An upper limb joint replacement must be capable of a larger range of movement than a lower limb joint replacement, but it does not require to withstand such large forces.
Name the important types of movement of: (i) the knee and (ii) the hip.
i) Flexion and extension are the important types of movement of the knee.
ii) Flexion, extension and abduction are the important types of movement of the hip.
Name 2 early specific complications of arthroplasty
- Dislocation
- DVT ==> PE
- Infection
Define a bacteraemia.
This is the presence of bacteria in the blood stream
Describe 3 general complications of surgery.
- Chest and urinary tract infections
- DVT ==> PE formation
- Pressure sores
Which late complication is possibly almost inevitable?
Loosening and wear
Define rheumatoid arthritis.
RA is a chronic inflammatory disorder of many systems of the body, the cause of which is unknown. It manifests itself as joint pain and can result in deformities in the joints as the disease progresses.
Which joints are most commonly affected in RA?
The fingers, wrists, feet and ankles
unlike in OA in which larger joints are more commonly affected e.g. knees and hips
What is a synovectomy?
This is the surgical removal of the synovium (synovial membrane) from a joint
Outline the role of surgery in rheumatoid arthritis.
The role is to reduce pain and retain as much function to the joint as possible
The deposition of which crystal causes gout?
Deposition of urate crystals
What is the possible long-term consequence of crystal arthroplasty?
They can cause a chronic degenerative change in the joint and be a secondary cause of arthritis
Name two types of avascular necrosis.
Two types of avascular necrosis are post traumatic and Caisson’s disease.
Find out if ans would also be spontaneous/unknown cause?