Upper Extremity II Flashcards
What is elbow epicondylitis usually due to?
Overuse
Why would you get imaging with elbow epicondylitis?
Concerns of lose bodies, fractures or exostosis (bone spur)
Tx for elbow epicondylitis
Acute: sling, wrist brace, ice, anti-inflammatory
Preventative: forearm strap, minimize activity
Recurrent: steroid injections, surgery for debridement
Causes of olecranon bursitis
Trauma, prolonged pressure, infection or rheumatologic conditions
Tx for olecranon bursitis
Ice, NSAIDs, aspiration if need culture, antibiotics and surgery if infected
Clinical presentation of cubital tunnel syndrome
Ulnar neuropathy (RF/LF tingling or numbness), decreased grip strength, chronic muscle wasting
Tx for cubital tunnel syndrome
NSAIDs, bracing, PT, surgery if need cubital tunnel release (maybe ulnar nerve transposition)
Pathogenesis of carpal tunnel
Swelling of synovium of thickening of transverse carpal ligament leading to compression of nerve
Females 2:1 (increased risk with smaller tunnel)
Other causes of carpal tunnel
Pressure or space occupying lesion, connective tissue disorders, trauma, pregnancy, renal failure, hypothyroidism
Early presentation of carpal tunnel
Pain intermittent and described as dull ache at wrist after use
Progresses to burning pain, numbness and tingling
Specialized test for carpal tunnel
Tinels, Phalens
Nerve conduction study
Used for carpal tunnel because can be used to test sensory and motor nerves
Records time from stimulus to response
Will be delayed in CTS because of demyelination of median nerve fibers
Electromyogram
Used in carpal tunnel diagnosis
Needle inserted into muscle to measure electrical activity with muscle relaxed and fully contracted
Denervated muscle spontaneously fires during relaxation and produces fibrillation
Acute tx for carpal tunnel
Immediate decompression
Tx for chronic carpal tunnel
NSAIDs, local injection of corticosteroid, brace, PT
What are ganglion cysts?
Collection of synovial fluid within a joint or tendon sheath
Presentation of ganglion cysts
Commonly on dorsal radial and volar aspects of wrist
Soft mobile mass
Fluctuates in size, often with activity
Can be painful with repetitive activity
Tx of ganglion cysts
NSAIDs
May resolve spontaneously
Aspiration and steroid injection
Surgery for recurrence
What is De Quervain’s tenosynovitis?
Inflammation of the 1st dorsal compartment involving the sheath of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis
Cause of overuse and repetitive gripping (increased risk with hormonal changes so post partum)
30-50 YO Woman
Clinical presentation of de quervain’s tenosynovitis
Pain/swelling along dorsal radial wrist
Pain aggravated by thumb and wrist motion (grippin)
+Finkelstein test
Tx for de quervain’s tenosynovitis
Stop activity and thumb spica immobilization
NSAIDs, steroid injections, may have surgery to decompress 1st dorsal compartment
Boutonniere
Flexion of PIP and hyperextension at DIP
Ruptured central slip extensor tendon mechanism