Orthopaedics (Unit 4: Minor Adult Disorders) Flashcards
What is an enthesis?
Short fibrous origin of a muscle
What is Golfer’s elbow?
Inflammation of the common origin of the flexor muscles of the forearm
What is tennis elbow?
Inflammation of the common origin of the extensor muscles of the forearm
How can recovery from common enthesopathies be sped up?
Course of anti-inflammatory agents
Steroid injections
What is the surgical management of enthesopathies if required?
Scraping the origin of the muscle from the bone and permitting it to slide distally (“decompressing”)
What is neuropraxia?
Stretching and compression of nerves
Why is early diagnosis essential in nerve entrapments?
Continued pressure will lead to atrophy of the nerve which at best takes a very long time to recover and is usually permanent
What are common sites of intrinsic nerve entrapment?
Median nerve at the wrist
Ulnar nerve at the elbow
Ulnar nerve at the wrist
Posterior tibial nerve at the ankle
What are extrinsic causes of nerve entrapments?
Accidents with loss of consciousness
Patients in bed or plaster casts
Which nerve is the most common site at risk of extrinsic pressure?
Common peroneal nerve as it winds around the head of the fibula
How is nerve entrapment diagnosed?
Numbness or tingling in the area should be taken seriously
Weakness and real sensory loss ar diagnostic
(If in doubt do nerve conduction studies)
How is nerve entrapment managed?
Remove cause if obvious
If symptoms persist surgical relief of pressure
What is tenosynovitis?
Inflammation of tendons and their associated synovial sheaths
What is tenosynovitis often associated with?
Rheumatoid Arthritis
What normally precipitates tenosynovitis?
Unusual levels of activity or overuse
What is a bursa?
Small sac of fibrous tissue lined with synovial membrane anf filled with fluid
What is the purpose of bursae?
“Bearing” aimed at improving muscle and joint function by reducing friction (usually where tendons and ligamens pass over bones)
However may also form in response to pressure
What are the most common sites of bursitis?
Shoulder
Knee
Elbow
Greater trochanter at the hip
What is pre-patellar bursitis also called?
Housemaid’s knee
What would make you suspicious that there was an infection of the bursa?
Tense swelling associated with cellulitis and general ill health
What is the treatment of chronic bursae?
If tender may be excised although patient should be encouraged to remove the underlying cause
What is the treatment for infected bursae?
Incised and drained (leads to spontaneous recovery through scarring and fibrosis)
When might a painful spasmodic flat foot warrant early intervention and what would be found on examination?
Occurs acutely in middle age
Painful tender swelling over insertion of tibialis posterior
Indicates acute or impending degenerative rupture
If a flat foot is associated with pain what conservative intervention may help and why?
Medial heel lift will correct the deformity of the hind part of the foot and stabilize the medial arch
If pain is a persistent problem in flat feet what intervention is required?
Fusion of the subtalar joint (no to be undertaken lightly as profoundly disturbs function)
What are bunions?
Fluid filled bursae found around bony prominences
Where are bunions usually found?
Distal part of first metatarsal and occasionally ove rthe fifth
What do bunions indicate?
Form as a natural response to pressure and indicate an underlying abnormality which should be treated
What are corns?
Painful excessive corny skin formed in response to pressure