Bones and joints Flashcards
How would you recognise a fractured bone?
Swelling or bruising over the bone
Deformity
Pain in the injured area that worsens on movement or application of pressure
Inability to bear weight on the injured leg or foot
Loss of function
What’s the most common cause of a fractured scaphoid bone?
Falling on an outstretched hand
What causes joint pain?
Inflammation- traumatic synovitis (usually doesn’t cause redness or heat.
Gout and pseudogout cause recurrent hot and red inflammation
Chondromalacia patellae- damaged knee cap- no redness or heat around the knee
Haemarthrosis- signs include swelling, warmth, stiffness and bruising, which occur soon after the injury. Often caused by a torn ligament or knee fracture. More likely in patients that are taking warfarin.
What is gout?
A disease in which defective metabolism of uric acid causes arthritis (especially in smaller bones of the feet), deposition of chalk-stones, and acute pain episodes
What is septic arthritis?
A serious type of joint infection that’s usually localised to just 1 joint, but should be treated as soon as possible. Its most common cause is staphylococcus aureus. It occurs when bacterial infection spreads to your joints via the bloodstream, or possibly from a puncture wound, drug injection or surgery near a joint.
What are the symptoms and signs of septic arthritis?
Extreme discomfort and difficulty using the joint. The area may be red, swollen and hot
What is the most common dislocation in adults and in children?
In adults, the shoulder is the most common dislocation, while in children it’s the elbow
What is nursemaid’s elbow?
A common partial dislocation in children which can also be called a pulled elbow, or it’s medical name is radial head subluxation. It’s a partial dislocation of the radiocapitellar joint due to the fact the ligaments aren’t yet fully formed. It’s usually caused by an adult pulling the child abruptly by their hand, e.g. to avoid a car or when they’re refusing to go somewhere
Describe osteoarthritis
The most common form of arthritis, occurring when the cartilage that protects the ends of bones becomes worn over time. It can affect any joint, but mostly occurs in the hands, spine, knees and hips. The damage cannot be reversed, but symptoms can be managed. Symptoms- pain, stiffness, tenderness, loss of flexibility, grating sensation, bone spurs and swelling.
What are the risk factors for osteoarthritis?
Old age, being female, obesity, joint injuries, repeated stress on the joint, genetics, bone disease and some metabolic diseases
What are Heberden’s nodes?
Bony swellings of the distal interphalangeal joints in the hands. They can be painful, and they develop when the cartilage has worn down and bone is degraded, so they are intended to replace the bone, but form nodes next to the original bone. Symptoms include pain, stiffness and limited range of motion
What are Bouchard’s nodes?
A classic sign of osteoarthritis. Bony swellings of the proximal interphalangeal joints of the fingers. They’re less common than Heberden’s nodes, but also may or may not be painful, and affect range of motion. They can eventually result in misalignment of bones and crookedness
Describe osteoporosis
A condition that causes bones to become brittle and fragile, leading to higher risk of fractures and breaks. It is more common in the elderly and in anorexia. It’s around 4x more common in women, as bone loss increases for several years after menopause. There are often no symptoms, but possibilities are low-impact fratures and vertebral crush fractures
What are the risk factors for osteoporosis?
Lack of oestrogen- early menopause or hysterectomy
Steroids (especially oral)- can reduce calcium absorption from the gut and increase its excretion via the kidneys
Lack of weight-bearing exercise- reduced bone development and muscle strength
Poor diet- low calcium or vitamin D, or very underweight
Heavy smoking- tobacco is directly toxic to bones and lowers oesotrogen and testosterone
Heavy drinking
Family history
