Rheumatology/MSK Flashcards
Define osteoarthritis
Non inflammatory, progressive synovial joint damage caused by wear and tear of most commonly used joints.
Joints commonly affected in osteoarthritis
Knees
Hips
Sarco-ileac joints
Wrist
Carpometacarpal
Interphalangeal
Risk factors for osteoarthritis
Age
Female sex
Raised BMI/obesity
Joint injury/trauma
Joint malalignment (congenital or not)
Pathophysiology of osteoarthritis
Usually, cartilage breakdown and production by chondrocytes is under balance.
In OA, chondrocytes secrete more metalloproteinases (degrading enzymes) leading to loss of Type 2 cartilage. (Type 1 has less elasticity)
IL-1 and TNF-a also stimulate metalloproteinase production and inhibit collagen production.
Causes decreased joint space, which causes damage to bones on movement. Bone attempts to repair itself with type 1 collagen but causes bony overgrowths
Signs/symptoms of osteoarthritis
Asymmetrical non inflamed joint pain, which gets worse as the day goes on
- Herbeden’s nodes (DIP Swelling)
- Bouchard’s nodes (PIP swelling)
- Fixed flexion deformity of carpometacarpal
- Joint pain worse with activity
- Mechanical locking
- Joint stiffess, tenderness, crepitus (crunching sensation when moving)
- NO EXTRA ARTICULAR MANIFESTATIONS
Typical presentation of osteoarthritis
> 45 years old
Typical activity related pain
No morning stiffness (<30 mins)
Investigations in osteoarthritis
1st - X ray (LOSS)
L - Loss of joint space
O - Osteophytes (bony overgrowths)
S - Subchondral sclerosis
S - Subchondral cysts
Non pharmacological treatments of osteoarthritis
- Weight loss
- Low impact exercise
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational therapy
- Heat/cold packs at site of pain
- Orthotics (helps with foot issues)
Pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis
1st - Oral paracetamol, topical capsaicin, topical NSAID
Topical NSAID first for knee
Others:
- Intra articular steroid injection
- Joint replacement
Define Rheumatoid arthritis with epidemiology
Autoimmune, systemic disease causing symmetrical deforming inflammation of small joints which progresses to larger joints and organs.
More in women aged 30-50
Type 3 hypersensitivity reaction
Risk factors for Rheumatoid arthritis
- Female
- Smoking
- Family history
- Post menopause
- HLA-DR1, HLA-DR4
Pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis
Arginine -> Citrulline mutation of type 2 collagen. Immune cells cannot differentiate self and non-self, causing antibody formation. Anti-CCP (cyclic citrullinated peptide) antibodies formed. These bind to citrullinated peptides and form immune complexes, which accumulate in synovial fluid, causing inflammation.
Cytokines recruited by macrophages (TNF, IL1,6) proliferate, forming thick pannus containing cytokines, myofibroblasts and fibroblasts. These grow past joint margins, destroy subchondral bone and articular cartilage. T cells also express RANKL, which bind to osteoclasts, causing bone breakdown.
Inflammatory cytokines also escape joint space, causing systemic effects
Signs/symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
Symmetrical polyarthritis
Signs
- Boutonniere deformity (PIP flexion, DIP hyperextension)
- Swan-neck deformity (PIP hyperextension, DIP flexion)
- Z thumb deformity (thumb IP hyperextension, MCP flexion)
- Ulnar deviation
- Popliteal cysts (synovial sac bulges posterior to knee)
- Rheumatoid nodules (lumps under skin and around organs)
Symptoms
- Morning stiffness, >30 mins, improves throughout day
- Carpometacarpal joint spared in rheumatoid but not psoriatic
Investigations in rheumatoid arthritis
ESR/CRP high
Autoantibodies:
- Anti CCP (more specific - can be detected 15 years before symptoms)
- Rheumatoid factor (present in other diseases e.g. Sjogren’s)
X ray- LBSP
Loss of joint space
Bone erosions
Soft tissue swelling
Periarticular osteopenia (punched out erosion)
Subluxation
Extra articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis
(skin, respiratory, CVD, eyes, haem, systemic)
Skin
- Rheumatoid nodules
Respiratory
- Pulmonary nodules
- Pleurisy
- Bronchiectasis
- Caplan’s syndrome
- Interstitial lung disease
Opthalmological
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
- Scleritis
- Corneal ulceration
CVD
- IHD and pericarditis
Anaemia, Amyloidosis, Felty syndrome
Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
DMARD - Methotrexate (CI in pregnancy!)
NSAID
Intraarticular steroid injections
Main life threatening complication of rheumatoid arthritis
Felty’s syndrome
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Splenomegaly
- Neutropenia
Monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis
Monitor FBC, LFT, U&E weekly until treatment stabilised
Check ESR/CRP monthly
- Check disease activity score (DAS-28) annually
- Check for comorbidities
- Assess for surgery need
What type of reaction is rheumatoid arthritis
Type 3 hypersensitivity
Define gout
Inflammatory Arthritis caused by deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints (Most commonly first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint - big toe)
Risk factors for gout
- Elderly
- Male
- Purine rich foods (red meat, seafood, alcohol)
- Obesity
- Hypertension
- Impaired kidney function
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Family history
Causes of gout
Increased uric acid production
- Increased cell turnover (leukaemia, haemolytic anaemia)
- Purine rich diet (shellfish, red meat, organ meat)
- Obesity/metabolic syndrome
Decreased excretion
- CKD
- Diuretics/aspirin/pyrazinamide
- Lead toxicity
What type of diet would you recommend a patient with gout switch to
High dairy diet is protective from Gout
Pathophysiology of gout
Normally, purines are broken down into uric acid by xanthine oxidase, which is then excreted by kidney. Uric acid has limited solubility in blood, in high concentrations, can become a urate ion which binds to sodium to become monosodium urate, which deposits in areas of low blood flow (joints/ kidney tubules).
WBCs attack said crystals, causing inflammation
Signs/symptoms of gout
Generally monoarticular (can be up to 4) joint swelling, tenderness, erythema.
- Usually 1st MTP but can affect ankle, wrist, knee, small hand joints.
Gouty tophi (nodular masses of urate crystals - massive lump under skin) can appear
Flares last between 7-10 days, first 12 hours worst
Investigations in gout
Joint x ray:
- Joint effusion, preserved joint space.
- Lytic lesions
- Punched out erosions with sclerotic margins and overhanging edges
- Loss of joint space is a very late sign
Joint aspiration w/ polarised microscopy:
- Needle shaped crystals with negative birefringence
Management of gout
General life advice
Acute flares
Prevention
General life advice:
- Low purine, lose weight, avoid alcohol (especially beer)
Acute flares:
- NSAID+PPI OR colchicine OR steroid injection 2nd line
Prevention:
- Allopurinol (xanthine oxidase inhibitor)
Complication of gout caused by hyperuricaemia
Urate nephrolithiasis: Hyperuricaemia can cause urate renal stones
Define pseudogout
Pseudogout is an inflammatory arthritis caused by deposition of calcium pyrophosphatase crystals in synovium
Risk factors for pseudogout
- Increasing age
- Female
- Previous joint trauma
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hypomagnesaemia
- Hypophosphataemia
- Haemochromatosis
- Acromegaly
Pathophysiology of pseudogout
Also known as chondrocalcinosis.
Calcium pyrophosphatase crystals trigger synovitis, most commonly in the knee, shoulder and wrist.
Acute - mainly larger joints in elderly
Chronic - Inflammatory RA-like symmetrical arthritis
Signs/symptoms of pseudogout
Usually indistinguishable from gout, except that knee, wrist, ankle are most affected
- Inflammation: warm, swelling, erythema, pain and joint stiffness
Investigations in pseudogout
X ray: Chondrocalcinosis (suggestive but not diagnostic, absence doesn’t exclude)
Joint aspiration w/ polarisation: Weakly positively birefringent rhomboid shaped crystals
Also check: Bone profile/PTH, Iron studies, serum magnesium to check cause
Management of pseudogout
Acute
- NSAID or colchicine or corticosteroid injection
- Cool packs + rest
Chronic
- DMARD (methotrexate) or joint replacement
Main differential of crystal arthropathies
Septic arthritis!
Gout vs pseudogout joint aspiration
Gout - Negative birefringent needle shaped crystals
Pseudogout - Positively birefringent rhomboid shaped crystals
Name the 2 types of infective arthritis
Septic - Infection of joints caused by either direct inoculation or haematogenous spread. Medical emergency
Osteomyelitis - Inflammatory disease of the bone marrow. Can be acute or chronic.
Define Septic arthritis
Infection of joints caused by most commonly staph aureus. occurs by direct inoculation or haematogenous spread
Causative microbes in septic arthritis
Staph Aureus - Most common
Staph epidermidis - prosthetic joints
Strep pyogenes - Children under 5
Neisseria gonorrhoeae - Sexually active
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Ecoli in elderly, immunosuppressed or IV drugs
Risk factors for septic arthritis
- Underlying joint disease
- IV Drug use
- Immunosuppression
- Prosthetic joint
- Recent joint surgery
Pathophysiology of Septic arthritis
- Medical emergency due to risk of sepsis, permanent joint destruction and osteomyelitis.
- Direct or haematogenous spread
- 90% cases staph or strep
Signs/symptoms of septic arthritis
Mainly affects 1 joint. (Knee most common. but also hip, shoulders, wrists, elbows)
- Hot, tender, erythematous, swollen joint with very limited range of movement (weight bearing joints wont allow use its that painful/limited)
- Fever
- Distal skin lesions if gonococcal
Investigations of septic arthritis
- FBC - High WBC, high ESR/CRP
- Blood culture - Check before antibiotics!
- Urine if gonococcal
Joint aspiration GOLD
- Yellow/cloudy, high WCC, culture positive, neutrophils
- Must be sent for gram staining and culture
- Take before antibiotics!
What scoring criteria is used in Septic arthritis
Kocher criteria
(non weight bearing, temp, ESR, WCC)
Differential diagnoses of monoarticular arthritis
Gout
Pseudogout
Septic arthritis
Reactive arthritis
Treatment of septic arthritis
Empirical antibodies until cause known.
1st - Flucloxacillin and rifampicin
Joint drainage/washout
Drugs to stop in septic arthritis
Methotrexate/Anti TNF-a
Define osteomyelitis
Inflammatory condition of the bone/bone marrow, caused by infection (Staph aureus most common). Can be acute or chronic, leading to soft tissue infection, infarction and reactive new bone.
Mostly occurs in children
Causative organisms in osteomyelitis
SPSNM
Staph aureus - MC
P aeruginosa - MC (gram negative rod)
Salmonella
N gonorrhoeae
M tuberculosis
Risk factors for osteomyelitis
- Diabetes
- Old age
- PVD
- Immunocompromise
- Malnutrition
- IV drugs
- Recent invasive surgery
- Trauma
- Sickle cell anaemia
Pathophysiology of osteomyelitis
Pathogen can get into bone through
- Haematogenous spread (E.g. through cannula)
- Contiguous spread
- Direct inoculation
Disease course can be acute or chronic
Acute
- Bacteria reaches bone and proliferates. Infection fought off by immune system, however this damages bone. Osteoclasts repair damage and form new bone
Chronic
- Acute osteomyelitis can become chronic if lesion is large or if there is not enough viable bone for repair.
- Affected bone can become necrotic and separate from the healthy part of the bone (this is a Sequestrum)
- Osteoblasts from the periosteum may form new bone that wraps the sequestrum in place (this is called an involucrum)
- Cloaca (gaps in an involucrum where necrotic bone and pus can discharge) also form.
Causes of osteomyelitis
Diabetic foot ulcer/skin infection
Open fracture
Cannula
Trauma
Insect bites
Prosthetic joints contaminated during surgery
Kidney disease
Nearby infections (Contiguous spread!!)
Signs and symptoms of Osteomyelitis
- Dull bony pain with redness and swelling at site of infection
- Joint pain
- Fever
- Reluctance to weight bear (child with limp)
- Ulcers or skin breaks
- Discharging sinus
Histopathology of Osteomyelitis
Acute
- Inflammation
- Oedema
- Vascular congestion
- Small vessel thrombosis
Chronic
- Necrotic bone (sequestrum)
- New thick sclerotic bone formation around sequestrum (Involucrum)
- Neutrophil exudate
- Tissue macrophages
Main differential of osteomyelitis
Charcot joint
- Damage to sensory nerves due to diabetic neuropathy
- Causes progressive degeneration of weight bearing joint and bony destruction
- Non infective, patient presents with Diabetic feet
Investigations in osteomyelitis
- High WBC, ESR/CRP
Imaging
X ray
- Local osteopenia
- Lytic lesions
- Cortical bone loss
- Periosteal reaction (thickening)
- Involucrum/sequestrum (“fallen leaf sign” - Sequestrum falls into medullary canal)
MRI - Most definitive imaging modality, may show signs of infection in medullary canal or surrounding soft tissue and abscesses
Microbiology
- BM biopsy + Culture GOLD
- Blood culture
- Urine MSU
-HbA1c MUST BE CHECKED
Management of Osteomyelitis with indications for surgery
- Flucloxacillin and Rifampacin empirical, give vancomycin if MRSA suspected
- Oral fusidic acid
Surgical debridement of sequestrum and necrotic bone if:
- Failure to respond to Abx
- Abscess formation
- Vertebral osteomyelitis
Main functions of bone
Haematopoiesis
Lipid/mineral storage
Support body framework
Protection (axial skeleton around major organs)
What are the cellular components of bone
Osteoblasts - Synthesise osteoid which later is calcified/mineralised into new bone
Osteocytes - As osteoid mineralises, osteoblasts become entombed between lamellae and mature into osteocytes. Monitor minerals, proteins and regulate bone mass.
Osteoclasts - Derived from monocytes, resorb bone by releasing H+ ions. Large, multinucleated cells.
What is the main component of bone ECM
Calcium hydroxyapatite crystals, main source of mineralisation of bone. Make bone hard and strong, and are organised into thin layers called lamellae
What are the main parts of bone
Cortical bone
Spongy/trabecular bone
What does cortical bone consist of
Multiple osteons, containing Haversian canals (blood supply and innervation) and lamellae, with collagen and hydroxyapatite crystals.
Gaps between lamellae, called lacunae, contain osteocytes
How does bone remodelling work
Osteoclasts resorb bone
Osteoblasts form new bone
Cortical/compact bone replaced every 10 years
Spongy/trabecular bone replaced every 3-4 years
Factors that affect bone remodelling
PTH
Calcitonin (thyroid gland hormone released in hypercalcaemia - Essentially antiPTH)
Vitamin D
What is the main difference between osteoporosis and osteomalacia
Osteoporosis refers to thin, porous bone with decreased mass and density but proper mineralisation. Usually due to increasing age and menopause
Osteomalacia refers to normal bony tissue but improper mineralisation, causing soft, weak bones, usually due to vitamin D deficiency
What bone changes increase risk of fragility fracture in osteoporosis
- Thinning of cortical bone
- Fewer trabeculae
- Widening of Haversian canals
Define osteoporosis
Skeletal disease characterised by low bone density and micro-architectural defects in bone, resulting in bone fragility and increased risk of fragility fracture.
Bone mineral density of 2.5 standard deviations below mean peak mass
Risk factors for osteoporosis
SHATTERED
S - Steroid (glucocorticoids decrease Ca2+ absorption in gut)
H - Hyperthyroid, HyperPT, hypocalcaemia/Hypercalciuria
A - Alcohol/smoking
T - Thin (low BMI)
T - Testosterone decrease
E - Early menopause
R - Renal/liver failure
E - Erosive bone disease (myeloma, RA)
D - Dietary reduced Ca2+, malabsorption, diabetes
Also, older age, female, previous fragility fracture, physical inactivity
Conditions that can cause osteoporosis
- Turner syndrome
- Hyperprolactinaemia
- Cushings
- DM
How does peak mass relate to osteoporosis
A higher peak bone mass is protective. At 25ish we have peak bone mass then begin losing bone
Signs and symptoms of osteoporosis, and most common fracture
Usually ASYMPTOMATIC TILL fracture! If symptoms likely to be something else.
- Easy fragility fracture
Most common: - Vertebral crush fracture
- Distal radius/ Colles fracture (wrist)
- Proximal femur/Femoral neck
In vertebral crush:
- Patient will have hunched posture (kyphosis), back pain and height loss (>4cm)
What are the types of osteoporosis
Type 1- Postmenopausal: Decreased oestrogen causes increased bone resorption
Type 2 - Senile: osteoblasts lose ability to form new bone.
Type 3 - Secondary: to coexisting condition
Scoring tool used in osteoporosis
FRAX Tool - Risk calculator for fragility fracture in next 10 years
Age, sex, weight, height, previous fracture, smoking, glucocorticoids, alcohol >3 units/day, femoral neck BMD.
If risk low, reassure
if intermediate - offer DEXA and recalculate
If high - Offer treatment
Investigations in osteoporosis
FRAX tool conducted first.
DEXA scan (Dual Energy Xray Absorptiometry) - measures bone mineral density. Usually measured at hip
Provides 2 readings;
- Z score - number of SDs patients BMD falls below mean for their age
- T score - number of SDs patients BMD falls below mean for young healthy adult
T score
>-1 - normal
-1 to -2.5 - Osteopenia
<-2.5 - Osteoporosis
Ca2+, phosphate and ALP should all be tested (and appear normal unless underlying cause)
Lifestyle management of osteoporosis
Activity/exercise
Maintain healthy weight
Stop smoking/alcohol
Adequate calcium/vit D
Avoid falls
Pharmacological management of osteoporosis
Bisphosphonates first line
- E.g. alendronate
If bisphosphonate CI
- Teriparatide (recombinant PTH)
- HRT (Testosterone/Oestrogen)
- Denosumab
- Raloxeifene
What are some side effects of bisphosphonates
- Reflux/oesophagitis
- Osteonecrosis of jaw
- Osteonecrosis of external auditory canal
- Oesophageal ulcers
How should bisphosphonates be taken
To be given on empty stomach, first thing in the morning with a full glass of water. Stay upright for 30 mins after taking and dont eat or drink for 30 mins after.
How is osteoporosis monitored
Follow up in 5 years if no treatment
On treatment, FRAX/DEXA in 3-5 years. Come off treatment if BMD improves with no fragility fracture
Define Osteomalacia
Metabolic bone disease caused by incomplete mineralisation of underlying osteoid. This causes softening of bone and results in rickets in children.
Risk factors for osteomalacia
Limited sunlight exposure
Vit D deficiency
Calcium deficiency
Phosphate deficiency
Malabsorption
CKD
Dark skin