Wrist and Hand Flashcards
5 areas from subjective history that are super important for wrist and hand:
Occupation
Sensory changes
Functional changes
Age
MOI
Three red flags to consider with wrist and hand:
Sudden swelling - infection
Pain not responsive to movement
Excessive pain worsened with treatment
4 areas that refer pain to the wrist and hand
cervical spine
upper thoracic spine
shoulder
elbow
What is the most common cause of hand pain?
Carpal tunnel syndrome
With carpal tunnel syndrome, which nerve is compressed?
median nerve
How is early carpal tunnel syndrome classified?
S/S present for less than a year
S/S intermittent and mild
Axons not damaged
Negative Tinel
How is intermediate carpal tunnel syndrome classified?
Varying intensity of s/s
No atrophy present
Axons injured
Weakness and positive Tinel
How is advanced carpal tunnel syndrome classified?
Intensifying s/s
Thenar muscle atrophy
weakness with pinch and grip
constant numbness
The most bothersome S/Sx with __________ is pain, N/T or loss of sensation
carpal tunnel syndrome
What are some important Pt history flags for carpal tunnel syndrome (6):
Over 45 yrs
N/T or loss of sensation
Dropping objects
Shaking hands improve S/Sx
S/Sx exacerbated by gripping tasks
S/S at night
6 predisposing factors for carpal tunnel syndrome:
Diabetes
Increased BMI
OA, RA
Pregnancy
Thyroid disorders
Excessive alcohol use
What fracture can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome?
Colles’ fracture
With carpal tunnel syndrome is numbness and tingling worse during the day or at night?
at night
To manage carpal tunnel syndrome, should a splint be used during the day or at night?
At night
What is the gold standard for CTS prediction?
EMG
tells you about the integrity of the nerve and muscle.
5 CPR items give you ___% certainty of CPS
90%
4 CPR items give you ___% certainty of CTS
70%
CPR list for Carpal tunnel syndrome (5):
Shake hand for symptom relief?
Reduced median sensory field of digit 1
Age >45 yrs
Symptom severity scale score >1.9
Wrist-ratio index >.70
Instrinsic minus hand involves which two nerves?
Median and ulnar
Management of intrinsic minus hand:
Tendon transplants
S/S of Intrinsic minus hand (3):
MCP hyperextension, DIP and PIP flexion
Loss of arches
Atrophy of intrinsics
Drop wrist deformity is caused by what nerve?
Radial nerve palsy
S/S of drop wrist deformity (1):
Paralysis of wrist and finger extensors (inability to extend).
Management of drop wrist deformity:
Repair/decompress radial nerve if able
Splinting in functional position
Pronator Teres syndrome involves the compression of what nerve?
Median nerveA
Anterior interosseus nerve syndrome is a ________ nerve pathology without _______ deficit.
Median; sensory
Posterior interosseus nerve syndrome involves which nerve?
radial nerve
Which carpal is involved in about 10% of wrist injuries?
The Lunate
Avascular necrosis of the lunate is called _______ disease.
Kienbock’s
Two things that can lead to Kienbock’s disease
Trauma or repetitive stress
Short ulna (excessive radial/lunate pressure)
S/S of Kienbock’s disease (4):
Aching, stiffness with wrist flexion
Tender over lunate
Decreased grip strength
Degeneration on radiograph
What patient population is most prone to Kienbock’s disease?
Young men, 18-40 y.o.
PT management of Kienbock’s disease (3):
Pain control
Maintain ROM of uninvolved joints
Progressive ROM, strengthening
Identify the stage of Kienbock’s disease:
Aching, stiffness
Ischemia of lunate
No radiographic changes
Stage I
Identify the stage of Kienbock’s disease:
Density changes: trabecular necrosis. Reactive cortical bone growth (Sclerosis)
Stage II
Identify the stage of Kienbock’s disease:
Collapse of lunate: Pathologic fracture (not due to outside mechanism). Deformity.
Stage III
Identify the stage of Kienbock’s disease:
Pancarpal arthrosis - ALL carpals involved. Degenerative changes and instability at wrist.
Stage III A and B
Two types of management for Kienbock’s disease:
Conservative or surgical
Describe the conservative approach to Kienbock’s disease:
Immobilization for 1-3 months to decrease stress on the lunate.
Colles’ fracture is most likely to be seen in which patient population?
Elderly women
Two causes of Colles’ fracture:
Falls (FOOSH)
OA
What is the ratio of colles’ fracture seen in women as compared to men?
6:1 women > men
Describe what happens in a colles’ fracture:
Dorsal displacement of distal fragment (named for where the fragment goes)
Silver fork deformity
What may also occur with a Colles’ fracture (5)?
Fracture of ulnar styloid
Shattering of distal radius
Injury to radiocarpal or distal radioulnar jt
TFCC tear
Scapholunate dissociation
S/S of Colles fractures (3):
Silver fork deformity
Pain with ALL wrist and hand movements
Local tenderness
Management of Colles fracture (4):
Closed reduction and immobilization
ORIF and external fixation if unstable or complex
Maintain ROM and strength of uninvolved joints
Progressive ROM and strengthening
What is a common complication seen in elderly women due to Colles fracture?
Adhesive capsulitis
Four additional complications associated with Colles fracture:
Adhesive capsulitis
CRPS
Malunion
Rupture of EPL tendon
A reverse Colles’ fracture is termed ___________ fracture.
Smith’s fracture
MOI for Smith’s fracture:
Fall onto flexed wrist
The management for a Smith’s fracture is the same as what?
Colles’ fracture
Radial styloid fracture is also called a __________ fracture.
Chauffeur’s fracture
What occurs in a radial styloid fracture?
Radial styloid is displaced laterally
MOI for Smith’s fracture
FOOSH with forced radial deviation
Management for Smith’s fracture:
Closed reduction, immobilization in UD. Fixation with K wires if necessary.
Progressive ROM and strengthening
What is the most common carpal fracture?
Scaphoid
MOI for a scaphoid fracture:
Fall onto fully extended wrist
S/S of scaphoid fracture (3):
Pain with extension, flexion and radial dev.
Weak/pain grip, pain with compression
Tender anatomical snuffbox (CLASSIC SIGN)
Management of a scaphoid fracture (3):
Immobilization, including thumb
Possible ORIF
Progressive ROM and strengthening
Possible complications of a scaphoid fracture (3):
Delayed union
non-union
Avascular necrosis
What location of a scaphoid fracture lead to avascular necrosis?
fractures in proximal 1/3
What occurs with a Boxer’s fracture?
Transverse fracture of the neck of MC 2-5
Which metacarpal is most commonly involved in a Boxer’s fracture?
5th