Differentials

Question 1

Causes of dorsal radial wrist pain

Answer 1

Extensor carpi radialis tenosynovitis, de quervains tenosynovitis, skid fracture, distal radius fracture

Question 2

Causes of dorsal Central wrist pain

Answer 2

Posterior interosseus nerve/radial nerve entrapment, gangly incest, scapholunate ligament sprain

Question 3

Causes of dorsal ulna wrist pain

Answer 3

Extensor carpi ulnaris tenosynovitis, TFCC tear, ulnar styloid fracture, triquetral fracture

Question 4

Causes of volar radial wrist pain

Answer 4

Carpo-metacarpal OA

Question 5

Causes of volar central wrist pain

Answer 5

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Question 6

Causes of volar ulnar wrist pain

Answer 6

Thoracic outlets syndrome, ulnar nerve compression, hook of hamate fracture

Question 7

Causes of thoracic pain

Answer 7

Intervertebral joint sprain, para spinal muscle strain, costotransverse joint sprain, Scheuermann’s disease (teens), postural imbalance of neck + shoulder
Rib stress #
Thoracic disc prolapse
T4 syndrome
Cardiac causes
Peptic ulcer
Shingles

Question 8

Causes of chest pain in an athlete

Answer 8

Rib trauma, referred pain from thoracic spine, sternoclavicular joint disorders, side strain, costochondritis, cardiac, peptic ulcer, PE, reflux, shingles

Question 9

Causes of buttock pain

Answer 9

Myofascial pain, referred from lumbar spine, proximal hamstring tendinopathy, SI joint dysfunction, piriformis syndrome, posterior thigh compartment syndrome, proximal hamstring tendon rupture, glute tendinopathy, ankylosing spondylitis, Spondyloarthropathy

Question 10

Causes of anterior hip pain

Answer 10

Labral tear, OA, synovitis, ligament teres tear, groin related pain, stress fracture of neck of femur, traction apophysitis, avascular necrosis of femoral head, SCFE, Perthe’s dz, tumor

Question 11

Causes of lateral hip pain

Answer 11

Glute tear, referred lumbar pain, bursitis, neck of femur #, nerve root compression

Question 12

Causes of posterior hip pain

Answer 12

Posterior labral tear, referred pain, proximal hamstring issue, sciatica

Question 13

causes of Groin pain

Answer 13

Adductor related, iliopsoas related, inguinal related, pubic related, hip related groin pain
Inguinal or femoral hernia
Nerve entrapment (obturator, ilioinguinal, genitofemoral), referred pain (lumbar, SI), apophysitis (ASIS, AIIS, pubic bone)
Stress #, SCFE, Perthe’s, AVN
UTI, STI, appendicitis, diverticulitis,
Testicular tumor

Question 14

Causes of anterior thigh pain

Answer 14

Quadriceps, muscle contusion or strain, myositis ossificans, referred pain, nerve entrapment (lateral or femoral cutaneous), SCFE, Perthe’s, compartment syndrome

Question 15

Causes of posterior thigh pain

Answer 15

Hamstring muscle strain or contusion, referred pain, tendinopathy of biceps femoris, compartment syndrome

Question 16

Causes of Shoulder Pain

Answer 16

Rotator cuff pathology (strain, tear, tendinopathy)
GH instability
Biceps pathology (SLAP labral tears, biceps tendinopathy, tenosynovitis)
Posterior shoulder stiffness (GIRD)
Scapular pathology + dysfunction (AC + SC joint pathology, sprain, fracture, dislocation)
Pec major or long head of biceps tear
Adhesive capsulitis
Neurovascular entrapment (suprascapular, long thoracic, axillary, thoracic outlet syndrome)
Snapping scapula
C spine or T spine referred pain
Bony tumor proximal humerus
Visceral referred pain (diaphragm, gallbladder, heart, spleen)

Question 17

Causes of lateral elbow pain

Answer 17

Extensor tendinopathy, referred pain from cervical or thoracic spine, synovitis of radio-humeral joint, posterior interosseous nerve entrapment, osteochondritis dissecans of capitellum or radius

Question 18

Causes of medial elbow pain

Answer 18

Flexor tendinopathy, MCL sprain, ulna nerve compression, little leaguer’s elbow

Question 19

Causes of posterior elbow pain

Answer 19

Olecranon bursitis
Triceps tendinopathy
Gout, pseudogout
RA, OA
Posterior impingement syndrome
Loose bodies/ osteophytes
Referred cervical pain

Question 20

Causes of acute knee pain

Answer 20

Meniscus tear, MCL sprain, ACL sprain, articular cartilage injury, PCL sprain, patella dislocation, patella tendon rupture, quadriceps tendon rupture, bursitis, tibial plateau fracture, osteochondritis dissecans

Question 21

Causes of immediate (0-2 hrs) knee swelling after injury

Answer 21

ACL rupture, patella dislocation, major chondral lesion, MCL sprain

Question 22

Causes of delayed (6-24hrs) knee swelling after injury

Answer 22

Meniscus, smaller chondral lesion

Question 23

Causes of anterior knee pain

Answer 23

Patellofemoral pain, patella tendinopathy, pre-patella bursitis, quadriceps tendinopathy, fat pad impingement, Osgood Schlatter, stress # patella, referred pain from hip, SCFE, osteochondritis dessicans, Perthe’s

Question 24

Causes of lateral knee pain

Answer 24

IT band syndrome, lateral meniscus injury, patellofemoral syndrome, OA of lateral compartment, biceps femoris tendinopathy, posterolateral corner knee injury, synovitis, referred pain from lumbar, SCFE, Perthe’s

Question 25

Causes of posterior knee pain

Answer 25

Knee joint effusion, bakers cyst, referred pain, biceps femoris tendinopathy, popliteus tendinopathy, DVT, claudication, PCL sprain

Question 26

Causes of medial knee pain

Answer 26

Patellofemoral syndrome, medial meniscus injury, OA of medial compartment, pes anserine bursitis, MCL injury, referred pain from hip, SCFE, Perthe’s

Question 27

Causes of shin pain

Answer 27

Bone stress reaction or stress fracture, medial tibial stress syndrome, chronic exertional compartments syndrome, pop artery entrapment, strain or tendinopathy

Question 28

Causes of calf pain

Answer 28

Gastrocnemius, soleus or plantaris strain, DOMS, Chronic compartment syndrome, claudication, DVT, popliteal artery entrapment, bakers cyst, cramping

Question 29

Causes of pain in Achilles region

Answer 29

Achilles tendinopathy, tibialis posterior tendinopathy, posterior ankle joint impingement, Achilles rupture, Sever’s disease

Question 30

Acute ankle injuries

Answer 30

ATFL, CFL, PTFL sprain Medial ligament injury, AITFL injury Fracture of malleolus, tibial plafond, base of 5th, calcaneus, talus Fracture dislocation Syndesmosis injury

Question 31

Causes of persistent ankle pain after injury

Answer 31

Fracture of calcaneus, talus, tibial plafond, base of 5th Anterior or posterior impingement Syndesmosis sprain Medial ligament sprain Complex regional pain syndrome Peroneal tendon weakness/ rupture

Question 32

Causes of medial ankle pain

Answer 32

Tibialis posterior tendinopathy, flexor hallucis longus tendinopathy, medial calcaneal nerve entrapment, tarsal tunnel syndrome, talar stress fracture, medial malleolar stress #, posterior impingement syndrome, navicular stress fracture, complex regional pain syndrome

Question 33

Causes of lateral ankle pain

Answer 33

Peroneal tendinopathy, sinus tarsi syndrome, impingement syndrome, stress # of talus or distal fibula, complex regional pain syndrome

Question 34

Causes of rear foot + inferior heel pain

Answer 34

Plantar fasciitis, fat pad contusion, calcaneal stress #, talar stress #, complex regional pain syndrome, medial calcaneal nerve entrapment

Question 35

Causes of midfoot pain

Answer 35

Navicular stress fracture, mid tarsal joint sprain, Lisfranc sprain, tibialis posterior tendinopathy, cuneiform or cuboid stress fracture

Question 36

Causes of forefoot pain

Answer 36

Stress fracture of metatarsal, MTP joint synovitis, 1st MTP joint sprain, bunion, Morton’s neuroma, corns, Freibergs, nail trauma or disease

Question 37

What injuries can be caused by hyperextension of the knee?

Answer 37

Tibial plateau, meniscus

Question 38

What injuries can be caused by a forceful blow inferior to knee

Answer 38

PCL