Regional adult orthopaedics Flashcards
A man comes to see you saying he was lifting some logs when he got severe pain in his back. He says the pain is worse on coughing. What is this and do you do?
Acute dic tear. Analgesia and physiotherapy and advice that symptoms usually resolve in 2 - 3 months.
What is sciatica?
The nucleus polposis herniates/prolapses through a disc tea. Disc material then presses on an exiting nerve root resulting in pain and altered sensation in a dermatomal distribution
Damage to what disc and nerve causes a reduced knee jerk?
L3/L4 prolapse, L4 root entraptment
In a disc prolapse is it the nerve root of the lower of upper vertebrae that is damaged?
Lower
What nerve root is damaged if the patient complains of pain in the dorsum of the foot?
L5
How would you treat sciatica?
Analgesia
Maintain mobility
Physiotherapy
Gabapentin may help
What is spinal stenosis? why do you get it?
The cauda equina of the spinal cord has less space and so multiple nerve roots become compressed/irritated
A 70 year old man comes to you complaining of a burning pain in his back which is worse when walking downhill. He already suffers from intermittent claudication in his back.
Spinal stenosis
Why is the pain improved on walking uphill in people who suffer from spinal stenosis?
Spine flexion creates more space for the cauda equina
A patient comes in complaining on pain in both legs and a numbness in her bottom. She revels she had an episode of urinary incontinence yesterday. What do you do?
Cauda equina syndrome
Perform a rectal examination
Urgent MRI
Urgent discectomy
What changes might you seen on MRI in a patient with avascular necrosis of the femoral head?
Patchy sclerosis of the weight bearing area of the femoral head with a lytic zone underneath caused by granulation tissue. This lytic zone gives rise to the “hanging rope” sign.
What can you do surgically if you catch AVN early?
Drill holes in the femoral neck and into the abnormal are to relieve pressure, promote healing and prevent collapse.
What is the treatment for a collapsed femoral head due to AVN?
Total hip replacement
A patient presents to you with pain and tenderness in the region of the greater trochanter and, on examination has pain on resisted abduction.
Troachanteric bursitis
How is trochanteric bursitis treated?
Analgesia, NSAIDs, physiotherapy to strengthen other muscles
What does the anterior cruciate ligament do?
Prevent abnormal internal rotation of the tibia?
What does the PCL do?
Prevents hyperextension and anterior translation of the femur
What does the MCL do?
Resists valgus force
What does the LCL do?
Resists varus force and abnormal external roatation of the tibia.
A patient presents to you following a twisting injury yesterday at football.The have pain in the medial joint line, an effusion and complains of a locking of the knee meaning they cannot straighten it fully.
Meniscal tear
What is true knee locking?
A mechanical block to full extension caused by the torn meniscus flipping over and becoming stuck in the joint line.
A patient comes into A & E from a rugby match. He describes being tackled whilst standing and says he heard a pop. when the injury occured. The patient has a large effusion and when you drain this it is blood.
ACL rupture
What might an injury causing hyperextension of the knee cause?
PCL rupture
What will a valgus stress injury cause?
Rupture of the MCL
What will a varus stress injury cause?
Rupture of the LCL