Orthopedics Flashcards
Common causes of elbow pain
- Ligamental sprains, fracture, bursitis, epicondylitis
- Atraumatic elbow pain d/t overuse + repetitive movements
PE exam for elbow pain
Assess for trauma!
Full joint, ROM, motor, + neurovascular exam
Imaging and labs
Elbow pain diagnostics
Imaging
* x-ray commonly ordered
* U/S
* MRI
Labs
* CBC w/diff
* ESR
* uric acid
* RF
* ANA
* Lyme testing
Joint aspiration
Definition
Epicondylitis
“Tennis elbow”
Lateral elbow inflammation
“golf elbow”
Medial elbow inflammation
Pain at origin tendon that can be acute, mild, or severe
Objective findings with MEDIAL epicondylitis
- Tenderness over medial area
- Pain w/resisted wrist FLEX AND pronation w/elbow in full EXT
- Pain w/ passive terminal wrist EXT w/elbow in full EXT
- ROM + neurovascular PE NORMAL
Objetive findings with LATERAL epicondylitis
- Tenderness over lateral
- Pain w/resisted wrist EXT w/elbow in FULL EXT
- Pain w/passive term wrist FLEX
- ROM + Neurovascular PE NORMAL
- NORMAL ROM W/O PAIN
Imaging necessary for epiondylitis?
NO
clinical dx
Epicondylitis differentials
Ligamental sprain
Radial head fracture
Epicondylitis pharmacological treatment
NSAIDs x 2 weeks
w/o contraindication
Epicondylitis nonpharmacological txs
PRICEMM
* Protect
* Rest
* Ice
* Compress
* Elevate
* Meds
* Modalities
Epicondylitis Risk Factors
- Tobacco use
- Obesity
- Age 45-54
- Repetitive movements > 2hrs/day, heavy lifting
- Occupational RFs
Epicondylitis referral
PT or OT
How is it different from epicondylitis
Ligamental sprain objective findings
Tenderness overlying affected ligament
Pain w/ROM
Ligamental sprain treatments
Pharm and non-pharm
- NSAIDs PO/topical
- PRICE
- Sling if in significant pain
Ligamental sprain clinical findings
May or may not have known injury
Pain
Radial head fracture clinical findings
Weakness d/t ↓ strength
Pain
Radial head fracture objective findings
- Tenderness overlying radial head
- Limited ROM
- Local or diffuse edema
- Neurovascular PE NORMAL
Radial head fracture tx and referral
PRICE
Ortho → surgery for displaced or complicated fracture + managment
Definition
Ulnar neuritis
- Compression of ulnar nerve
- Compression d/t
- RA
- Ganglion cysts
- Fracture
- Repeated irritation/pressure to area
Ulnar neuritis clinical findings
- Numbness or tingling
- Pain may radiate
Ulnar neuritis objective finding
May have sensory loss of 5th digit + ↓ motor strength in 4th + 5th digits
Ulnar neuritis treatments
and referrals
Pharm + nonpharm
- NSAIDs
- PRICE
- Elbow pad
- Splint
PT/OT referral
Neuro referral
Definition + etiologies
Olecranon bursitis
- Swelling or bursal sac under olecranon process
- Acute, chronic, or septic
- Etiologies
- Trauma
- RA
- Crystal arthropathy
Olecranon bursitis
Acute vs chronic
Clinical findings
OBJ findings
- Acute: Painful and edematous elbow
- Chronic: Soft, edematous nonpainful elbow
- Full ROM + normal neuro findings
- Chronic: rough nodular consistency noted
- Look for systemic s/s for secondary to infection
Olecranon bursitis diagnostic imaging
X-ray
Olecranon bursitis treatments
Pharm and nonpharm
NSAIDs
Aspiration of joint
Olecranon bursitis
Patient education + referrals
- Avoid direct pressure
- Ortho referral
- Hospitalization if concern for infectious process
Definition
Plantar fascitis
- Overuse condition involving degenerative changes
- NOT INFLAMMATORY
- Common in primary care
- Peak incidence in 40-60y.o.
Plantar fasciitis clinical findings
- May be bilateral
- Pain in proximal foot
- Worse in AM when stepping out of bed after long period of inactivity
- Worsens to later in day after being active all day
- Non-radiating pain
- Paresthesia UNCOMMON
Plantar fasciitis objective finding
- Tenderness to palpation of proximal medioplantar fascia
Plantar fasciitis diagnostics
- Mainly clinical dx: Hx + exam
- Labs not indicated
- ESR + CRP normal
- No imaging needed for DX
- X-ray for bony lesion, bone spur, other bony abnormalities
- MRI + U/S to see thickening of plantar fascia on scans
Plantar fasciitis pharmacologic txs
- NSAIDs x 2 weeks
- Corticosteroid INJs for refractory (treatment resistant) cases
Plantar fasciitis nonpharmacological txs
Typically conservative + nonoperative txs
* Activity modification
* Ice massage
* Stretching + strengthening exercises
* Heel padding
* Orthotics
* Taping
* Acupuncture
* Plantar fasciotomy for refractory cases post 6-12 months
Plantar Fasciitis Risk Factors
- Limited ankle dorsiflexion
- ↑ BMI
- Extended periods of standing
- Occupations
- Athletes
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Pes cavus or pes planus
Plantar fasciitis patient education + referral
- Avoid flat shoes or walking barefoot
- Encourage athletic or arch-supporting shoes
- Referral to physiatry/ortho
Plantar fasciitis differential diagnoses
Neurologic
* Nerve entrapment
* Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Skeletal
* Fracture
* Bone tumor
Soft Tissue
* Achilles tendonitis
* Plantar fascia rupture
* Retrocalcaneal bursitis
Tarsal tunnel syndrome + nerve entrapment clinical findings
Burning
Paresthesia
Plantar fracture
Bone tumor
clinical findings
- Hx of injury, inability to bear weight
- Deep pain at night and does not improve
Achilles tendonitis
Plantar fascia rupture
Retrocalcaneal bursitis
Clinical findings
- Tenderness over achilles
- Sudden onset p! + “pop” noise
- Swelling + p! in area
Definition
Gout
Three stages
- Most common inflammatory arthritis
- Accumulation of monosodium crystals (MSU)
- Uric acid from purine metabolism
- Kidney issues → ↓ renal excretion or overprod rate
1. Acute flare
2. Intercritical gout (between flares)
3. Chronic gouty arthritis + tophaceous gout
Gout clinical findings
- 1st attack typically affects one joint/monoarticular
- Polyarticular less common
- Joint pain comes on + progresses rapidly (12-24hrs) often starting at night
- Skin desquamation (peeling)
Gout objective findings
Common gout sites
- Sensitive to palpation - hypersensitivity (bed sheets sensation
- Joint is warm, red, tender, maybe effusion
- Chronic = tophi (stone like deposits)
- Low-grade fever
Most common sites of gout
* 1st MTP
* Ankle
* Knees
* Wrists
* Fingers
* Elbows
Uric acid level of MSU crystal deposition
> 6.8
At increased risk
Should you measure uric acid level during acute gout attack?
Not reliable during the attack itself
Gout lab diagnostics
What is the gold standard?
Arthrocentesis w/synovial fluid analysis → establish diagnosis + r/o others GOLD STANDARD
* ESR + CRP
* CBC w/diff → shows ↑ WBC + ↓ PLT (maybe)
* BMP
- Renal fx for renal dosing
- Blood sugar for corticosteroid use
* LFTs: meds dose dependent
Gout Imaging diagnostics
- X-ray most common
- MSK U/S, CT, Dual energy CT, MRI (not common)
Gout prediction tool
- Male sex (2pts)
- Previous patient-reported arthritis (2pts)
- Onset within one day (0.5pts)
- Joint redness (1pt)
- 1st MP joint involvement (2.5pts)
- HTN or at least 1 CV disease (1.5pts)
- Serum urate level > 5.88 (3.5pts)
Based upon total score
* Low (≤ 4 pts)
* Intermediate (> 4 to < 8 pts)
* High (≥ 8 pts) probabiltiy of gout
Gout differentials
- Septic arthritis
- Trauma
- Calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition (CPPD)
- Pseudogout
- Cellulitis
- RA