Forearm, elbow and shoulder conditions

Question 1

What is a Colles fracture?

Answer 1

Fracture of the distal radius with dorsal angulation of the distal segment

Question 2

What is a Smith’s fracture?

Answer 2

Fracture of the distal radius with volar angulation of the distal segment

Question 3

What is the usual management of a displaced, extra-articular distal radius fracture?

Answer 3

Closed reduction and cast

Question 4

What are the indications for surgery for distal radius fractures?

Answer 4

Significantly displaced or unstable fractures

Fractures with an intra-articular step of the radiocarpal joint >2mm

Question 5

What is a Chauffer fracture?

Answer 5

Intra-articular fracture of the radial styloid process

Question 6

What causes a Colles fracture?

Answer 6

Fall on an outstretched hand

Question 7

What causes a Smith’s fracture?

Answer 7

Fall onto flexed wrist or direct blow to the back of the wrist

Question 8

What causes a Chauffer fracture?

Answer 8

Blow to the back of the wrist

Question 9

What is a Galeazzi fracture?

Answer 9

Fracture of the distal radius with dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint

Question 10

What is a Monteggia fracture?

Answer 10

Fracture of the ulnar shaft with dislocation of the radial head

Question 11

What causes a Galeazzi fracture?

Answer 11

Fall on an outstretched hand

Question 12

What causes a Monteggia fracture?

Answer 12

Fall on an outstretched hand

Question 13

Which part of the elbow is affected by tennis elbow?

Answer 13

Common extensor origin (lateral epicondyle)

Question 14

Which part of the elbow is affected by golfer’s elbow?

Answer 14

Common flexor origin (medial epicondyle)

Question 15

What is found on examination in tennis elbow?

Answer 15

Pain over lateral epicondyle on wrist extension against resistance

Question 16

What is found on examination in golfer’s elbow?

Answer 16

Pain of the medial epicondyle on wrist flexion against resistance

Question 17

What causes radial head fractures?

Answer 17

Fall on an outstretched hand

Question 18

What causes supracondylar fractures?

Answer 18

Fall on an outstretched hand

Question 19

What causes coronoid fractures?

Answer 19

Episodes of elbow instability e.g. traumatic shear injury

Question 20

What tests are important for diagnosis of coronoid fractures?

Answer 20

Varus/valgus instability stress test

Question 21

What causes olenacron fractures?

Answer 21

Direct blow or fall on an outstretched hand

Question 22

Where is the ulnar nerve most commonly trapped?

Answer 22

Cubital tunnel

Question 23

What is the management of cubital tunnel syndrome?

Answer 23

Surgical release of the nerve from the tunnel

Question 24

Give 5 risk factors for adhesive capsulitis

Answer 24

Diabetes
Autoimmune thyroid disease
Dupuytren's contracture
Atherosclerosis
Cervical disc release

Question 25

What is found on examination in adhesive capsulitis?

Answer 25

Loss of active and passive movement in all directions

Question 26

Give 3 mechanisms of rotator cuff tear

Answer 26

Chronic degenerative tear Chronic impingement Avulsion injury Iatrogenic

Question 27

Give 4 risk factors for rotator cuff tears

Answer 27

Age Smoking Hypercholesterolaemia Family history

Question 28

Give 1 indicator of poor prognosis in adhesive capsulitis

Answer 28

Diabetes

Question 29

Give 1 indicator of poor prognosis in rotator cuff tears

Answer 29

Night pain

Question 30

Which test is used for subscapularis?

Answer 30

Lift off test

Question 31

Which test is used for supraspinatus?

Answer 31

Empty can test

Question 32

Which test is used for infraspinatus?

Answer 32

External rotation

Question 33

Which test is used for teres minor?

Answer 33

External rotation with arms abducted

Question 34

Which bedside test can be used to investigate a suspected rotator cuff tear?

Answer 34

Ultrasound

Question 35

What is the gold standard investigation for rotator cuff tear?

Answer 35

MRI

Question 36

Which part of the clavicle is the most commonly fractured?

Answer 36

Middle third

Question 37

In which demographic are clavicle fractures most common?

Answer 37

Men <30 years old

Question 38

Which nerve may be damaged in a humeral neck fracture?

Answer 38

Axillary nerve

Question 39

What sign does axillary nerve damage produce?

Answer 39

Numbness of the regimental badge area on the lateral deltoid

Question 40

How should shoulder dislocations be imaged?

Answer 40

MR arthrogram

Question 41

Which nerve may be damaged by an anterior shoulder dislocation?

Answer 41

Axillary nerve

Question 42

What does a posterior shoulder dislocation look like on X ray?

Answer 42

Lightbulb sign

Question 43

What causes anterior shoulder dislocations?

Answer 43

Anteriorly directed force on arm when shoulder is abducted and externally rotated

Question 44

Which 2 imaging modalities can be used to image biceps tendinopathy?

Answer 44

Ultrasound | MRI

Question 45

Give 2 risk factors for distal biceps tendon rupture

Answer 45

Smoking | Anabolic steroids

Question 46

Distal biceps tendon rupture primarily produces weakness of which movement?

Answer 46

Supination

Question 47

Which test involves squeezing the biceps with the forearm slightly pronated?

Answer 47

Ruland test

Question 48

Which test is used to assess supraspinatus tendinopathy?

Answer 48

Hawkins test