MSK Flashcards
(295 cards)
What are the 3 conditions making up the seronegative spondyloarthropathies?
Ankylosing spondylitis
Psoriatic arthritis
Reactive arthritis
What joints are mainly affected in ankylosing spondylitis?
Vetebral column joints
Sacroiliac joints
What gene is associated with ankylosing spondylitis
HLA-B27
What is the typical presentation of ankylosing spondylitis
Young adult male in their 20s with:
Pain and stiffness in the lower back
Sacroiliac pain
Pain and stiffness is worse in the morning and takes around 30 mins to improve, improves with exercise and worsens with rest
What symptoms can one experience other than back and sacroiliac pain in ankylosing spondylitis
Chest pain related to the costovertebral and sternocostal joints
Enthesitis (inflammation of the entheses, where tendons or ligaments insert into bone)
Dactylitis (inflammation of the entire finger)
Vertebral fractures (presenting with sudden-onset new neck or back pain)
Shortness of breath relating to restricted chest wall movement)
What conditions are associated with ankylosing spondylitis
5A’s
Anterior uveitis
Aortic regurgitation
Atrioventricular block
Apical lung fibrosis
Anaemia of chronic disease
Investigations for anklyosing spondylitis
Schober’s test - mark 10cm above and 5cm below L5 vertebrae and ask patient to bend forward –> length of <20cm between points = supportive of anklyosing spondylitis
ESR/CRP
HLA-B27 gene testing
X-ray of spine and sacrum
MRI of spine
What would an X-ray show in anklyosing spondylitis
Sacroiliitis: subchondral erosions, sclerosis
Squaring of lumbar vertebrae
‘bamboo spine’ (late & uncommon)
Syndesmophytes: due to ossification of outer fibers of annulus fibrosus
Apical fibrosis in CXR
What would an MRI of show in ankylosing spondylitis
Bone marrow oedema in sacroiliac joints
Management of ankylosing spondylitis
Regular exercise
1st line = NSAIDs
Anti-TNF therapy (if high disease activity) - adalimumab, etanercept or infliximab
Physiotherapy
What is the function of bursae
They act to reduce the friction between the bones and soft tissues during movement.
What are the causes of bursitis
Friction from repetives movement or leaning on the elbow
Trauma
Infection - septic bursitis
Inflammatory conditions - rheumatoid arthritis or gout
What are the symptoms of olecranon bursitis
Young/middle-aged man with an elbow that is:
Swollen
Warm
Tender
Fluctuant (fluid filled)
How do you identify that bursitis is caused by infection
Hot to touch
More tender on plapation
Erythema spreading to surrounding skin
Fever
Skin abrasion overlying the bursa
Features of sepsis - tachycardia, hypotensions, confusion)
Investigations for olecranon bursitis
Clinical diagnosis
If infection suspected:
Aspiration of bursal fluid and examine fluid:
Pus = infection
Straw-coloured = infection less likely
blood stained = trauma, infection or inflammatory cause
Milky = gout or psuedogout
Microscopy and culture of fluid:
Gram staining for bacteria
Examine for crystals = gout/pseudogout
Management of olecranon bursitis
Rest
Ice
Compression
Analgesia (e.g., paracetamol or NSAIDs)
Protecting the elbow from pressure or trauma
Aspiration of fluid may relieve pressure
Steroid injections may be used in problematic cases where infection has been excluded
Treatment of olecranon bursitis due to infective cause
Aspiration for microscopy and culture
Antibiotics - flucloxacillin (2nd line = clarithromycin)
IF septic = sepsis 6
Presentation of trochanteric bursitis
Middle aged patient with:
Gradual onset hip pain (over greater trochanter) - aching or burning
May radiate down the outer thigh
Worse with activity, standing after sitting and trying to sit cross legged
Tenderness over geeater trochanter
What would be the examination finding in trochanteric bursitis
Positive Trendelenburg test
Resisted abduction of the hip
Resisted internal rotation of the hip
Resisted external rotation of the hip
What is the Trendelenburg test
Involves asking the patient to stand one-legged on the affected leg. Normally, the other side of the pelvis should remain level or tilt upwards slightly. A positive Trendelenburg test is when the other side of the pelvis drops down, suggesting weakness in the affected hip.
Management of trochanteric bursitis
Rest
Ice
Analgesia (e.g., ibuprofen or naproxen)
Physiotherapy
Steroid injections
Define compartment syndrome
Where the pressure within a fascial compartment is abnormally elevated, cutting off the blood flow to the contents of that compartment
If compartment syndrome is not treated in time what can occur
Tissue necrosis
Where does compartment syndrome most commonly affect
Leg
Forearm
Feet
Thigh
Buttocks