Paediatric Orthopaedics - Complex Needs Flashcards
What is torticollis?
“Crick in the neck”
Abnormal, asymmetrical head or neck position, which may be due to a variety of causes - underlying anatomical distortion causing torticollis is a shortened sternocleidomastoid muscle
What is Scoliosis?
Lateral spinal curvature with secondary vertebral rotation - Thoracic or lumbar curvature can is greater than 10o
What is lordosis?
The normal inward lordotic curvature of the lumbar and cervical regions of the spine
What is kyphosis?
Convex kyphotic curvature of the spine as it occurs in the thoracic and sacral regions
What is Klippel-Fiel Syndrome?
Bone disorder, present from birth, characterized by the abnormal fusion of two or more spinal bones in cervical vertebrae
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What are the features of Klippel-Fiel Syndrome?
- Short neck
- Low hairline - back of the head
- Limited ROM in the neck
What are Muscular Dystrophies?
Progressive, generalised diseases of muscle, most often caused by defective / absent glycoproteins (e.g. dystrophin) in muscle wall membrane ⇒ Tissue most affected by its absence is skeletal muscle
How do the genetic abnormalities in muscular dystrophies lead to progressive muscle weakness?
- Dystrophin provides structural stability to the dystroglycan complex in cell membranes
- Defect ⇒ ongoing cell membrane depolarisation due to Ca2+ entering cells ⇒ degeneration and regeneration of muscle fibres
- Degeneration is faster than regeneration ⇒ progressive necrosis of muscle tissue
- Muscle cell proteins are replaced by adipose and connective tissue ⇒ muscle weakening
What is Spina Bifida?
- Birth defect - incomplete closing of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord. There are varying degrees of which are classified into the following categories:
- Myelomeningocele
- Myeloschisis
- Meningocele
- Spina bifida Occulta
What is spina bifida with meningocele?
This is spina bifida with herniation of the meninges and CSF without involvement of the spinal elements
What is spina bifida with meningomyelocele?
Spina bifida with herniation of both the meninges, nerve roots and/or spinal cord into the sac.
What is Myeloschisis?
Herniation of the meninges and spinal elements, but is distinctly characterised by flattened, plate-like mass of disorganised neural tissue in the sac. This is the most severe form, as the spinal cord area is left open due to failue of the neural folds to fuse
What is Spina Bifida Occulta?
Vertebral fusion defect only, without spine involvement and of no clinical significance. Skin covers the abnormality, so there are no external visible signs
What are the two main phases of locomotion?
- Stance
- Swing
What are the 3 main tasks of the gait cycle?
- Weight Acceptance
- Single limb Support
- Limb Advancement
What are the 8 subphases of the gait cycle?
- Initial contact
- Loading Response
- Mild Stance
- Terminal stance
- Pre-swing
- Initial swing
- Mid swing
- Terminal Swing
What are the prerequisites of a normal gait?
- Stability in stance
- Clearance in swing
- Preposition of foot
- Adequate step length
- Energy conservation
What is an Apraxic Gait?
Motor disorder in which the individual has difficulty with the motor planning to perform tasks or movements. In the lower limbs, this is characterised as loss of the ability to have normal function of the lower limbs such as walking
What is Antalgic Gait?
Gait altered to reduce experience of pain from affected limb
What is foot drop gait?
- High-stepping to allow clearance of the weak foot
- Occurs in common peroneal nerve palsy
What is an Ataxic Gait?
An unsteady, uncoordinated walk, with a wide base and the feet thrown out, coming down first on the heel and then on the toes with a double tap