The Elbow (midterm) Flashcards
A patient experiences pain in elbow when brushing hair. How do you splint them?
A. Elbow @ 0 degrees
B. Elbow @ 30 degrees
C. Elbow @ 60 degrees
D. Elbow @ 90 degrees
Answer: B – most natural angle, especially for sleep (NEVER @ full extension)
A patient is referred to you for activity modification for tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). Which of the following modification precautions would you not recommend?
A. Keeping the elbow close to the body when lifting heavy objects
B. Pronating the forearm when reaching to grasp objects
C. Use of adaptive tools to reduce gripping
D. Pushing objects when possible
Answer: B – with tennis elbow you want to avoid elbow extension, forearm pronation, and wrist extension
Which provocative test would confirm tennis elbow?
A. Cozen’s test
B. Phalen’s test
C. Hawkin’s test
D. Empty can test
Answer: A – can also do Mill’s (reverse cozen’s and reverse mills suggests medial epicondylitis)
B – carpal tunnel syndrome
C – impingement in subacromial space
D – supraspinatus
T/F: The LCL of the elbow stabilizes against valgus stress and MCL against varus stress.
Answer: False – LCL against varus stress
Stress moving toward Radius = vaRus
* Radial collateral ligament
You see a patient with cubital tunnel syndrome. You expect to see all but…
A. Increased thenar muscles
B. Parathesia of digits 4 + 5
C. Intrinsic wasting
D. Clawing
Answer: A – you’d see wasting; you would expect to see the rest
Which of the following are appropriate cubital tunnel interventions? (SATA)
A. Nighttime splint, elbow @ 30 degrees
B. Nerve gliding
C. Strength and ranging
D. Rest and protect
Answer: all except C
Which muscle group is most effected in lateral epicondylitis?
A. Pronators
B. Supinators
C. Flexors
D. Extensors
Answer: C
A – bicep
B – supinator
D – lateral epicondyle
Patient just had an LCL tear repair. What functional movement can they do?
A. Reaching behind the back to tuck a shirt
B. Latch a bra behind them
C. Pick up heavy groceries by the handle
D. Brush their hair
Answer: D – extrinsic rotation
A + B – internal rotation
C – Gripping
Patient just had an MCL tear repair. What functional movement can they do?
A. Brush their hair
B. Brush their teeth
C. Doff a T-Shirt
D. Take off a back-pack
Answer: B – internal rotation
A, C, D – external rotation
T/F: If a patient suffered an MCL tear from an elbow dislocation, they should be educated on avoiding/adapting functional movements that are in the terminal extension, pronation position, such as picking up a heavy object far from your body.
True – for LCL, avoid terminal extension and supination
T/F: It is important not to mobilize the elbow early post dislocation and subsequent ligament repair
FALSE – you DO want to mobilize cautiously AND early
OT management for an open reduction internal fixation includes… (SATA)
A. Surgical protection immediately post-op
B. Gentle ROM immediately post-op
C. Gradual strengthening
D. Splinting
All the above
