Pathologies

Question 1

What are the two types of fracture

Answer 1

Complete - bone broken into two or more fragments

Incomplete - fractured but not in fragments

Question 2

What is the differenece between a linear & transverse fracture

Answer 2

Linear: broken along bone length
Transverse: fracture dissects across the bone

Question 3

What is an avulsion fracture

Answer 3

Where a tendon or ligament pulls of a piece of bone

Question 4

What is a sprain

Answer 4

Involves a trauma that forces a joint beyond its normal range

Question 5

What is subluxation

Answer 5

Incomplete or partial joint dislocation

Question 6

What is dislocation

Answer 6

Complete separation of two bones at a joint

Question 7

What is kyphosis

Answer 7

A healthy spine includes a thoracic spine kyphosis which helps distribute forces through the spine
However hyper-kyphosis is abnormal & can cause muscular fatigue & irritation

Question 8

What is lordosis

Answer 8

Describes an increased concavity
A healthy spine will include a cervical & lumbar lordosis
However hyper-lordosis can cause pain

Question 9

What is scoliosis

Answer 9

A lateral ‘s’ shaped curve in the spine
Generally, the more pronounced the curve, the more clinically relevant
Can often be lived with & asymptomatic but when there’s pain then a concern

Question 10

What is a disc herniation

Answer 10

Where the nucleus pulposus of the intervetebral disc leaks out through the annulus fibrosus - most commonly lumbar spine as discs have highest fluid content

Question 11

What is osteoporosis

Answer 11

Chronic, progressive thinning of the bone

Characterised by decreased bone mineral density (BMD) leading to bone fragility & increased risk of fractures

Question 12

What is the difference between osteomalacia & rickets

Answer 12

Both describe inadequate mineralisation of the bone matrix in soongy & compact bone. Characterised by decalcification & hence softening of the bone - usually due to vitamin D deficiency

Osteomalacia can affect as an adolescent or adult whereas rickets is prior to the epiphyseal plate closure (<18yrs)

Question 13

What is osteomyelitis

Answer 13

A bacterial infection of the bone marrow through the blood supply or post-fracture, resulting in necrosis & hence bone weakness

Question 14

What is ankylosing spondylitis

Answer 14

A systemic autoimmune disease associated with chronic inflammation of the spine & sacroiliac joints, often leading to spinal fusion (ankylosis) & stiffness

Question 15

What is osteoarthritis

Answer 15

A disease causing painful joints
Degenerative wear & tear arthritis of the articular cartilage, typically affecting weight-bearing (larger) joints in individuals typically over 50
Compensatory bone overgrowth in attempt to stabilise joint leads to bone spurs (osteophytes)

Question 16

What is rheumatoid arthritis

Answer 16

An autoimmune inflammation of the synovium, potentially affecting ALL organs except the brain (systemic inflammation)
Most noticeable as symmetrical/bilateral arthritis of small joints that can then spread through more proximal structures

Question 17

What is gout

Answer 17

A type of monoarthritis, characterised by uric acid crystal deposition in synovial joints. These form solid crystals (monosodium urate) on cartilage surfaces. This causes WBCs to infiltrate which activates an acute inflammatory response

Question 18

What is uric acid derived from

Answer 18

Derived from the breakdown of purines
Can be found in foods such as red meat, organ meats, shellfish etc
Excessive alcohol consumption as competes for eliminationwithin the kidneys & accelerates purine breakdown

Question 19

What is bursitis

Answer 19

Inflammation of a bursa

Commonly affects the shoulder (sub-acromial) & hip (trochanteric)