OSCE examinations Flashcards
Hip exam structure
Start with patient lying down:
- Look
- Feel
- Move
- Special test (Thomas)
Patient standing up:
- Look
- Function (gait)
- Special test (Trendelenburg)
If time: neurovascular integrity
- Dorsal and sole of foot sensation
- Dorsalis pedis, posterior tibial, CRT
Hip exam: Thomas test
- Pt lying supine
- Hand in hollow of lumbar spine
- Passively flex hip
- Feel for flatting of lumbar spine (pushing down into your hand)
Positive = non-flexed thigh lifts up off bed = fixed flexion deformity
Hip exam: Trendelenburg test
- Sit on chair with patient stood in front of you
- Ask pt to hold onto your shoulders
- Hands on hips, thumbs over ASIS
- Ask pt to stand on one leg at a time (good leg first)
Normal = pelvis tilts UP on unsupported side
Positive (abnormal) = pelvis DROPS on unsupported side
Positive = aBductor instability
Knee examination structure
Start with patient lying down:
- Look (including measure thigh circumference)
- Feel (including patellar tap + sweep test)
- Move
- Special tests
With patient stood up:
- Look
- Function (gait)
If time, neurovascular integrity:
- Dorsalis pedis, posterior tibialis, CRT
- Sensation on dorsal and sole of foot
Knee exam: anterior and posterior drawer test
- With pt supine, flex knee to 90º
- Start by looking for posterior sag from side (PCL injury)
- Sit on foot, forearm on tibia
- Hands behind knee, thumbs on tibial tuberosity
- Pull tibia forward
- Push tibia backwards
Positive anterior drawer = ACL injury
Positive posterior drawer = PCL injury
Knee exam: McMurray’s
- Flex knee and hip to 90º
- Hold foot, internally rotate foot
- Hold knee with thumb+index finger on each side of joint line
- Straighten knee (still internally rotated) - FINDING
- Repeat with foot externally rotated, and on other side
Positive test = popping/clicking/pain = meniscal tear
Knee exam: collateral ligament stress test
- Flex knee to 15º
- Hold foot with one hand, support knee with other
- Apply pressure to each side of knee
Positive = laxity = MCL/LCL weakness
What special tests do you do for a knee exam?
- Anterior and posterior drawer (ACL, PCL)
- Lachman’s (alternative to anterior drawer) (ACL)
- Collateral ligament stress test (MCL, LCL)
4 McMurray’s (meniscus)
GALS: screening questions
- Do you have any pain or stiffness in your joints, muscles or back?
- Can you dress yourself completely without any difficulty?
- Can you walk up and down stairs without difficulty?
GALS exam: spine
Cervical spine ROM:
- lateral flexion
- flexion
- extension
- rotation
Lumbar spine:
- flexion
- confirm flexion by placing fingers on vertebrae and watching for separation
GALS exam: arms
Shoulders:
- “Put both hands behind your head” = aBduction, external rotation, elbow flexion
Hands:
- Squeeze MCP joints
- Pronation and supination
- Power grip (“squeeze my fingers”)
- Fine pincer grip (“touch your thumb to each finger”)
GALS exam: legs
Hips and knees:
- Patellar tap
- Active flexion (“bring your knee to your chest”)
- Passive internal rotation
Feet:
- Squeeze MTP joints
Foot and ankle exam: general structure
Patient sat on bed at 45º:
- Look
- Feel (temperature, squeeze all joints + Achilles tendon)
- Move (active + passive)
- Special tests (Simmonds’)
Patient standing:
- Look
- Function (gait)
If time, neurovascular integrity:
- Sensation on plantar surface of hallux, MTPs + heel
- Sensory level if suspected neuropathy
- Ankle jerk
- Dorsalis pedis, posterior tibialis, CRT
Foot and ankle: Simmonds’ test
- Pt prone with foot hanging off edge of bed
- Squeeze calf muscle and observe ankle plantarflexion
Absence of plantarflexion = Achilles tendon rupture
Shoulder exam: test for previous dislocation
Apprehension:
- pt lying supine
- elbow flexed to 90º, shoulder abducted to 90º, fingers pointing towards head
- force external rotation
Apprehension = previous dislocation