Topic 4 hand and wrist Flashcards
What is tenosynovitis?
Inflammation of the synovial lining of tendon sheath
• can occur in any single or group of tendons
• is a common problem of the hand
What are the clinical signs of tenosynovitis?
tenderness, swelling, and pain on specific movements
What are the causes of tenosynovitis?
o repetitive over use o rheumatoid arthritis o gout o amyloidosis o and infection.
How does tenosynovitis appear on ultrasound?
o tendon sheath fluid and/or debris o nodularity o sheath thickening. o tendinopathy o Colour Doppler may show increased flow in the thickened synovium.
What can happen if the tendon itself becomes involved in tenosynovitis?
o When the tendon becomes involved in this process and develops a tendinosis, tears of tendon fibres and even rupture may follow.
What can persistent swelling of the knuckles indicate?
• the possibility of tenosynovitis of the extensor tendons.
How does extensor tenosynovitis appear on ultrasound?
increase in the peritendinous fluid and minimal thickening of the tendons
• A comparison with the opposite side at the same level is crucial for the diagnosis.
• It is easier to demonstrate a sliver of fluid than a thickened tendon in the synovial sheath.
• Comparative transverse scans of the metacarpal heads will show a tendinous asymmetry
What is De Quervain tenosynovitis ?
- A type of tenosynovitis
* involves the abductor pollicis longus and the extensor pollicis brevis tendons in compartment 1.
How does De Quervain tenosynovitis present clinically?
• The patient complains of pain specifically over the radial styloid, worse with thumb movements, sometimes with swelling localised to the styloid.
How does De Quervain tenosynovitis appear on ultrasound?
o fusiform tendon swelling and thickening of the tendon sheath at the level of the radial styloid
o increased synovium, usually around APL, +/- swelling of tendon.
o Anomalies of this first compartment may include the APL having multiple slips.
o The APL/EPB may also have separate sheaths which is very useful if steroid injections are considered in the treatment protocol.
o In the chronic stage, there is thickening of the tendon and synovial sheaths, with formation of cysts and nodules
What causes De Quervains tenosynovitis?
Repetitive over use
What is trigger finger?
- locking of a digit in a flexed position
- usually caused by a stenosing tenosynovitis at the level of the A1 pulley on the volar aspect of a metacarpo-phalangeal joint.
How does trigger finger appear on ultrasound?
o tendon thickening
o synovial sheath fluid and thickening
o small peritendinous cysts.
o The tendon proximal to the restricting lesion may appear to buckle slightly, with flexion.
What is a stener lesion?
- occurs with rupture and displacement of the ulnar collateral ligament at the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb during a hyperextension injury to the thumb.
- It is also known as ‘gamekeeper’s thumb’ or ‘skier’s thumb’.
How does a stener lesion appear on ultrasound?
- With complete tears, the displaced UCL is seen as a linear echogenic structure that is redundant and retracted with a hypoechoic hematoma surrounding the redundant margin
- An avulsed fragment is seen as a small hyperechoic structure.
- With incomplete tears, the UCL may be markedly thickened but in a normal position
What is a scapholunate ganglia?
- actually arise from the dorsum of the wrist.
* The ganglion cyst penetrates through the scapholunate ligament and communicates with the joint.
How does a scapholunate ganglia present clinically?
- Ganglia can present as large and asymptomatic firm masses
* or small and painful non-palpable masses
What is the typical ultrasound appearance of a ganglion?
o Noncompressible
o Anechoic
o well defined
o with acoustic enhancement.
o Debris or thin septae may be present in the cyst.
o Ganglions can arise from many locations remote to the scapholunate ligament
o and are thus a differential diagnosis for many types of wrist pain.
What is intersection syndrome?
- A type of tenosynovitis
- occurs at the site where abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis cross extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis at the distal radius.
- It is also known as ‘Rowers’ Syndrome’ due to the incidence of this condition amongst rowers.
What can intersection syndrome be confused with?
De Quervains tenosynovitis
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
- neuropathy
* involves a compressive mass effect to the median nerve at the level of the carpal bones
What is the clinical presentation of carpal tunnel syndrome?
- patients present with hand pain
- often worse at night and reproducible with certain movements
- numbness in the thumb and second and third fingers.
What can cause carpal tunnel syndrome?
• Any lesion that reduces the size of the carpal tunnel may lead to this syndrome • that is o flexor tendon tenosynovitis o ganglia o tumours o fractures o during pregnancy
What is the clinical test for carpal tunnel syndrome?
Tinel’s sign for CTS - extend the hand and tap over the median nerve to produce tingling and altered sensation in the thenar muscle group and the digits one to three.
How does CTS appear on ultrasound?
- you need to exclude the above listed conditions as a cause of CTS
- and also to measure the median nerve at the level of the pisiform in a cross-sectional dimension to look for enlargement.
What are the normal measurements for the median nerve at the wrist crease?
The average measurement was shown to be 8.3 mm2 in men and 9.3 mm2 in women.
A cross sectional area of greater than 15 mm2 corresponds to an abnormal EMG and this is an appropriate criterion for diagnosis of an enlarged median nerve.
What is dupuytren contracture?
- palmar fibrosis
* resulting in the deposition of nodules on the palmar aponeurosis.
What causes dupuytren contracture?
- Trauma is often an inciting factor
* genetic predisposition, diabetes, alcohol abuse, and barbiturate treatments also contribute
How does dupuytren contracture appear on ultrasound?
- These nodules can be quite evident on ultrasound orientating along the pathway of the tendons.
- They are generally hypoechoic or isoechoic.
What is ulnar nerve compression of the wrist?
- Entrapment occurs at Guyon’s canal
* the nerve passes between the pisiform and the hook of the hamate, and the pisohamate ligament.
How does ulnar nerve compression of the wrist present clinically?
• Compression of the nerve will result in a hypothesia of the medial one and a half digits.
What does ulnar nerve compression of the wrist look like on ultrasound?
- Neuropathy will be evident as hypoechoic enlargement of the nerve.
- Anomalous muscles and muscle slips can cause classic neurological symptoms in this region when they hypertrophy