Trauma and ortho Flashcards
What is achillies tendonitis ?
Inflammation of the achillies tendon sheath
What are the RF for achillies tendonitis ?
- Sports (running)
- Medications like ciprofloxacin (patient with regular antibiotic use)
What medication increases the risk of achilies tendonitis ?
Ciprofloxacin
What are the features on examination of achillies tendonitis ?
- Posterior ankle pain
- Pain on palpation of tendon
- Swelling and thickening of the tendon
- May be ankle crepitus
How is achillies tendonitis managed ?
Conservative
Rest
Analgesia (NSAIDS)
What are the signs and symptoms of an ACL injury ?
- In history (sudden deceleration)
- Sudden painful popping sensation with rapid swelling
- inability to return to activity
- Lateral knee and joint line tenderness
- Positive lachman test
Anterior drawer test is positive (pull the tibia anterior)
What are the signs and symptoms PCL rupture?
- Direct blow to the proximal tibia when the knee is flexed
- Asymptomatic, posterior or anterior knee pain
- Posterior sag test may be positive
- Posterior drawer test may be positive
How are cruciate tears managed ?
- Conservative
- Physiotherapy
- Surgery
What mechanism commonly causes menisci tears ?
Twisting injuries
How do menisci tears commonly present ?
Meniscal tears typically present with pain and swelling of the knee, and patients may complain of ‘locking’ or ‘buckling’ of the knee. Meniscal tears are best seen on MRI, and can be treated conservatively or surgically.
What test can be used to detect meniscal tears ?
Mcmurray test
- Varus - medial
- Valgus - Lateral
What is patellar tendinitis ?
Patellar tendinitis or ‘jumper’s knee’ is an inflammation of the patella tendon at the tibial tuberocity which commonly occurs in adults participating in sports which involve jumping.
How does patellar tendinitis present ?
Anterior knee pain that is made worse by activity. Pain at the tibial tuberosity
How is patellar tendinitis treated ?
Diagnosis is primarily clinical and management strategies typically involve analgesia, rest, and modification of activities.
What is plantar fasciitis ?
inflammation of the plantar fascia associated with repeated microtrauma to the sole of the foot which manifests as pain in the plantar and heel areas of the foot.
What causes plantar fasciitis ?
Repeat overuse without rest
How does plantar fasciitis present and how is it managed ?
Pain across the heel and sole of the foot
Diagnosis is clinical and most people recover within a year with conservative management with analgesia, rest and supportive footwear
What time is transient synovitis ?
Benign cause of limp in children due to inflammation of the synovial lining of the hip joint.
What are the causes of transient synovitis ?
Normally preceded by a viral infection (usually an upper resp tract infection) 1-2 weeks before the onset of pain and limp.
How does transient synovitis present ?
- Can present similarly to early septic arthritis as both present with avoidance of weight bearing exercise and fever.
- Limitation of internal/external rotation
- The symptoms are generally milder than that of septic arthritis
How does transient synovitis present ?
- Raised white cell counts and raised inflammatory markers may point to a more septic picture but may be normal in other conditions.
- USS may show effusion and x-ray normal
- If there is a high index of suspicion for septic arthritis - joint aspiration
- Microscopy, culture and sensitivity of the joint aspirate will distinguish between the two, as bacteria within the joint space confirms septic arthritis.
How does transient synovitis present ?
Usually resolves in around 7 days with minimal risk for further damage.
What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis ?
Joint pain and stiffness. Often unilateral symptoms. Symptoms improve with rest and are worse with activity.
What are the signs on X-ray of OA ?
Loss of joint space, osteophyte formation at the joint margins, subchondral sclerosis and subchondral cysts.
What are the signs on the hands of OA ?
Heberdens nodes at the DIP and bouchardes nodes at the PIP.
What criteria can make a diagnosis of OA ?
NICE (2014) suggest that a diagnosis can be made without any investigations if the patient is over 45, has typical activity related pain and has no morning stiffness or stiffness lasting less than 30 minutes.
Describe the stepwise management of OA
First part of management is patient education and management of risk factors like weight loss, physiotherapy and OT. Orthotics ref-feral to support activities and function.
Stepwise use ofanalgesiato control symptoms:
- Oralparacetamoland topicalNSAIDsor topicalcapsaicin(chilli pepper extract).
- Add oralNSAIDsand consider also prescribing aproton pump inhibitor(PPI) to protect their stomach such asomeprazole. They are better used intermittently rather than continuously.
- Consideropiatessuch ascodeineandmorphine. These should be used cautiously as they can have significant side effects and patients can develop dependence and withdrawal. They also don’t work for chronic pain and result in patients becoming depending without benefitting from pain relief.
Intra-articular steroid injectionsprovide a temporary reduction in inflammation and improve symptoms.
Joint replacementcan be used in severe cases. The hip and knee are the most commonly replaced joints.
How do acetabular labral tears present ?
- Hip and groin pain
- Snapping sensation
- Pain on external rotation
- Able to weight bear
What is De quervains tenosynovitis ?
Common condition which the sheath containing the extensor pollicis brevis and the abductor pollicis longus tendons are inflammed.
Usually affects females age 30-50 years old.
Symptoms of De Quervains tenosynovitis ?
Pain on the radial side of the wrist
tenderness over the radial styloid process
How does inflammatory arthritis pain (like psoratic arthritis) tend to present ?
Pain better with activity and worse in the morning
- Boggy pain rather than bony