Wrist and Hand Pathology Flashcards
Carpal tunnel syndrome - define
Compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel
What makes up the carpal tunnel
Transverse ligament - pisiform and hook to the trapezium and scaphoid - forms the volar portion of the tunnel
Flexor retinaculum
Carpal bones - top of the carpal tunnel
Contents of the carpal tunnel
FDS FDP Flexor pollicis longus Median n. Flexor carpi radialis (travels in the retinaculum)
Etiology of CTS
- Incongruence between size of tunnel and contents of it
- Dec gliding of flexor tendons - n. irritation/swelling
- Miscellaneous reasons
Miscellaneous causes of CTS
Repetitive wrist motions Prolonged improper wrist position Wrist trauma (fracture) Pregnancy Arthritis
Presentation with CTS
Pain and paresthesias in hand (m.n distribution) Weakness Atrophy (ape hand) Dropping items Night discomfort
CTS - what will their hand look like
Atrophy of median nerve innervated mm - ape hand
Mainly thenar mm - except adductor pollicis (innervated by ulnar)
Their thumb will be adducted
Colles’ Fracture - define
Fracture of the distal radius (sometimes radius and ulna)
Colles’ Fracture - etiology
Usually from fall backwards landing on an extended wrist (FOOSH with extended wrist)
Opposite of Colles’ fracture =
Smith’s fracture
Radial fracture in a wrist flexion position
Presentation of Colles’ fracture
- Stiffness and dec ROM
- Dec strength (prolonged immob)
- Pain and paresthesia
- Dec functional use of wrist and hand
- CTS, Complex regional pain syndrome
Who is more likely to end up with a Colles fracture
Women more than men
More common in senior adults
People with a Colles fracture might end up with what deformity
Dinner fork deformity - can heal improperly and leave patient with slight angulation
Wrist and finger sprains - define
Trauma resulting in various degrees of ligamentous involvement
Wrist and finger sprain - etiology
Direct blow - “jam”
Fall
Presentation of wrist and finger sprain
Pain in joint when stretch ligament Instability or possible hypomobility Dec func. use of joint Limited ROM and strength Possible joint deformity
What else can happen if the finger/wrist sprain turns into a dislocation
Volar ligament plate - rupture
Collateral ligaments - rupture
What else needs to be ruled out with a wrist/finger sprain
Need to rule out a fracture, subluxation, dislocation
DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis - tenosynovitis of what muscles
Abductor pollicis longus
Extensor pollicis brevis
Etiology of DeQuervains Tenosynovitis
- Overuse of thumb
2. Forceful thumb injury
Presentation of DeQuervains Tenosynovitis
- Tenderness of swelling over 1st dorsal extensor compartment
- Pain with resisted thumb extension and abduction
- Localized edema
- Possible dec strength of thumb ext and abd
- Dec func use of thumb
Miscellaneous things with DeQuervains Tenosynovitis - may mimic what
Scaphoid fracture
Miscellaneous things with DeQuervains Tenosynovitis - may involve what nerve
Radial
Dupuytren’s Contracture - etiology
Result of a disease of the palmar fascia resulting in thickening and contracture of the fascia
Adheres to tendons, bidns them down and shortens them
Cause is UNKNOWN
Dupuytren’s Contracture - Presentation
- usually effects 4th and 5th digits
- Finger flexion contracture (AROM and PROM limitations)
- Presence of adhesions and dec palmar tissue mobility
- May result in non functional hand
Miscellaneous with Dupuytren’s contracture
- What if left untreated
- Bilateral or unilateral
- Where else does it occur
- Progressive if left untreated
- Can be bilateral or reoccur
- May occur in plantar fascia
Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Sprain - AKA
Gamekeepers Thumb
Gamekeepers thumb - define
Injury to the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb MCP
Gamekeepers thumb - etiology
- Forceful radial deviation of thumb MCP
- Falling on outstretched thumb
- End result of repetitive strain of UCL
Presentation of Gamekeepers thumb
- Swelling around thumb MCP
- Painful and dec ROM
- Dec thumb strength
- Dec func use of thumb
- Possible thumb instability