Questions (Orthopaedics) Flashcards
(261 cards)
Describe what is meant by autonomic dysreflexia [1]
What are typical symptoms? [3]
Autonomic dysreflexia is caused by excessive sympathetic activity in the absence of parasympathetic supply in a high spinal lesion.:
- It rarely occurs in lesions below the level of T6
- Hypertension, sweating, and flushing are typical symptoms
A 67 year old male on the vascular ward is reviewed. They have longstanding poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, obesity, foot ulcers, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia. They complain of pain in their 3rd toe, where they recently had an ulcer. On examination, there is acute tenderness and crepitus on palpation and spreading erythema. The patient is febrile, other observations are normal.
What is the most likely dx? [1]
Clostridium perfringens is a common cause of gas gangrene (clostridial myonecrosis), characterised by crepitus (due to gas production), acute tenderness, erythema, and systemic signs like fever
Osteogenesis imperfecta is a disorder of type [] collagen
Name some presenting features [3]
Osteogenesis imperfecta is a disorder of type 1 collagen
- Brittle bones manifesting in frequent breaks are a common problem.
- Abnormally coloured sclera
- brittle, translucent teeth are also frequently seen in those with osteogenesis imperfecta
Describe the presentation of a supracondylar fractur of the humerus [1]
Which nerve is damaged? [1]
Ulnar nerve damage:
- Loss of sensation to the palmar aspects of the first and second fingers of the right hand and weakened right wrist flexion
Describe why unimpacted fractures of the femoral shaft are typically associated with shortening of the limb? [1]
The proximal segment of a fractured femur is flexed by the iliopsoas and abducted by the gluteus medius and minimus, while the adductors pull the distal segment medially; contraction of these muscle groups produces shortening of the limb.
Explain exactly what a Boxer’s fracture is [1]
Describe the treatment options depending on the level of fracture [2]
Boxer’s fracture:
- a break in the fifth metacarpal typically caused by punching
Treatment:
Non-operative management typically involves immobilization with a splint or cast
The indications for surgery are:
* Significant rotation or angulation of the affected fingers.
* Articular involvement of the fracture.
* Multiple metacarpal fractures.
* Open fractures.
Which carpal bone is most likely to dislocate? [1]
Scaphoid
Hamate
Capitate
Pisiform
Lunate
How would this present? [3]
Why? [1]
Lunate
- wrist pain and weakness of the thumb and index finger of the hand
- weakness in ability to oppose the thumb
- loss of sensation over the palmar aspect of the lateral fingers of his right hand.
- due to the lunate bone typically dislocates anteriorly into the carpal tunnel and compresses the median nerve, resulting in wrist pain, altered sensation in the lateral finger’s palmar aspect, and weakness in thumb opposition.
NB: the scaphoid is the most likely to fracture, not dislocate
A 34-year-old woman is a passenger in a car during an accident. Her knee hits the dashboard. On examination the tibia looks posterior compared to the non injured knee.
What is the most likely cause? [1]
In ruptured posterior cruciate ligament the tibia lies back on the femur and can be drawn forward during a paradoxical draw test.
Describe what is happening at point F [1]
Juxta-articular osteopenia refers to a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD) that occurs near the joint (juxta-articular means “next to the joint”
A patient reports having ‘a pebble in their shoe’
What is the most likely diagnosis? [1]
Morton’s neuroma
How would you differentiate between supraspinatous muscle and nerve injury? [2]
Pain:
* Damage to the supraspinatus muscle itself would be painful
* painless nature suggests damage to the suprascapular nerve, which supplies the supra- and infraspinatus.
Describe a common MCQ stem for damage to suprascapular nerve [1]
Moreover, the mechanism of injury is suggestive – the shoulder straps of a rucksack (likely to be used during a hiking holiday) on the root of the neck likely caused prolonged pressure on the suprascapular nerve, with secondary neuropraxia
Normal x-ray
What would you like to do with the aspirated synovial fluid? For ?SA
Send for gram staining, cultures and sensitivity and crystal analysis
Urgent pH analysis
Discard it safely
Needs urgent gram staining only
Send for gram staining, cultures and sensitivity and crystal analysis
It is important to urgently rule out an infective cause, especially septic arthritis. Gram staining can be done fairly quickly; cultures and sensitivity may take a little longer. To check the synovial fluid for crystal is important if gout or Pseudogout is suspected.
How would you manage septic arthritis?
Prolonged oral antibiotics
Joint replacement
Vigorous Intravenous antibiotics and analgesia
Intravenous antibiotics and surgical washout of affected joint
- Analgesia and NSAIDs and provide pain relief and decrease inflammation
- Underlying cause will need to be treated with intravenous antibiotics initially followed by a prolonged course of oral antibiotics
- Needs a surgical washout of the joint to prevent destruction of the joint
?Gout
Synovial fluid is E is from Mr Jones’ knee.
Normal = A
Inflammatory, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis = C
Non-Inflammatory, e.g. Osteoarthritis = B
Hemorrhagic = F
Septic = D
Results from Mr Jones’ synovial fluid demonstrated presence of crystals. How they are best analysed?
Microscopic analysis under polarizing light
Periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) stain
Ziehl-Neelsen staining
Congo red staining
Results from Mr Jones’ synovial fluid demonstrated presence of crystals. How they are best analysed?
Microscopic analysis under polarizing light
Periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) stain
Ziehl-Neelsen staining
Congo red staining
Why do you need to consider metabolic syndrome when thinking about gout? [1]
Metabolic syndrome is important to consider as patient with hyperuricaemia are at risk of cardiovascular disease, especially as Mr Jones has hypertension and family history of heart disease.
What is the normal serum urate level?
Upper limit of 230 μmol/L in males and 160 μmol/L in females
Upper limit of 360 μmol/L in males and 460 μmol/L in females
Upper limit of 380 μmol/L in males and 260 μmol/L in females
Upper limit of 430 μmol/L in males and 360 μmol/L in females
Upper limit of urate is 430 μmol/L in males and 360 μmol/L in females
How should an asymptomatic patient with a high serum urate be managed?
Do nothing as it may be incidental
Start them on allopurinol
Wait for them to develop symptoms
Address risk factors and modify lifestyle
Address risk factors and modify lifestyle
Vertebral fractures at T4 or above suggest []
Vertebral fractures at T4 or above suggest cancer rather than osteoporosis.
How can you tell if there is a rotator cuff injury? [1]
How do you distinguish this from a rotator cuff tear? [1]
Rotator cuff (impingement) syndrome because there is a painful arc when the arm is passively abducted.
However, the drop arm test indicates that there is a complete rotator cuff tear, rather than tendinitis
- A patient may be able to lower the arm slowly to 90 degrees because this uses mostly the deltoid muscle but, below 90 degrees, the arm will drop to the side.