Elbow examination Flashcards

1
Q

How do you ask patient to position themselves when you are looking at elbow carrying angle?

A

Patient should stand facing you, arms and hands at their sides (fully extended arm) with palms facing forward

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2
Q

What is the normal range for elbow carrying angle?

A

5-15 degrees

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3
Q

What is cubitus valgus deformity, and in what part of the examination do you identify it?

A

Forearm is angled away from body at greater degree than normal when arm is fully extended

Look for it

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4
Q

What is cubitus varus deformity, and in what part of the examination do you identify it?

A

Forearm is angled away from body at smaller degree than normal when arm is fully extended, looks like forearm is almost vertical

Look for it

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5
Q

When looking for elbow flexion deformity, how do you position the patient?

A

Look at patient from the side with their arm extended

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6
Q

What 3 surfaces of the elbow should you look at?

A

Posterior, medial, lateral

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7
Q

What 6 signs can you look for on the posterior, medial, lateral surfaces of the elbow?

A

Scars, rashes, muscle wasting, rheumatoid nodules, psoriatic plaques, and swellings such as olecranon bursitis

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8
Q

What does olecranon bursitis look like?

A

Large, round swelling on posterior aspect of elbow, over olecranon

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9
Q

What 2 areas do you feel for temperature, and what technique do you use?

A

Use back of hand to feel temperature of elbow joint and forearm

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10
Q

How do you feel the radial head and joint line for tenderness and swelling?

A

Hold patient’s forearm with one hand so that their elbow is flexed 90 degrees, then use your thumb to feel radial head and joint line

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11
Q

Where does synovitis usually present in the elbow joint?

A

Between lateral epicondyle and olecranon, should feel for fullness

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12
Q

What is golfer’s elbow, and how do you feel for it?

A

Palpate medial epicondyle tenderness

Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow): inflammation on end of inner elbow, within the common flexor tendon

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13
Q

What is tennis elbow, and how do you feel for it?

A

Palpate lateral epicondyle tenderness

Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow): inflammation on end of outer elbow, within the common extensor tendon

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14
Q

Where do you feel elbow joint for swelling that could indicate olecranon bursitis?

A

Feel olecranon process

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15
Q

What 4 movements are examined for elbow function?

A

Elbow flexion
Elbow extension
Protonation
Supination

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16
Q

How do you test active and passive elbow flexion, what is the normal range of movement?

A

Active elbow flexion: ask patient to bend their elbows

Passive elbow flexion: bend patient’s elbows

Normal angle: 0-145 degrees

17
Q

How do you test active and passive elbow extension, what is the normal range of movement?

A

Active elbow extension: ask patient to straighten out arm as far as possible

Passive elbow extension: straighten out patient’s arm as far as possible

Normal angle: 0 degrees

18
Q

How do you test active and passive protonation, what is the normal range of movement?

A

Active protonation: ask patient to turn forearm so that palm is facing floor and feel for crepitus

Passive protonation: turn patient’s forearm so that palm is facing floor and feel for crepitus

Normal angle: 0-85 degrees

19
Q

How do you test active and passive supination, what is the normal range of movement?

A

Active supination: ask patient to turn forearm so that palm is facing up and feel for crepitus

Passive supination: turn patient’s forearm so that palm is facing up and feel for crepitus

Normal angle: 0-90 degrees

20
Q

Give one example of how to test for elbow function?

A

Ask patient to put their hand on their mouth

21
Q

If a patient has elbow flexion deformity, how will their elbow look when flexed?

A

Reduced elbow flexion so angle will be less than 120 degrees

patient won’t be able to brin hand close to face

22
Q

If a patient has elbow flexion deformity, how will their elbow look when extended?

A

Reduced elbow extension so angle will be reduced by over 30 degrees

Patient won’t be able to fully straighten out arm

23
Q

What is the purpose of performing passive movements?

A

Feel for crepitus in elbow joint