wrist and hand exam Flashcards
(120 cards)
FOOSH can lead to
Scaphoid or distal radius (Colle’s) fracture
Lunate dislocation
Clicking and popping sounds in a joint, especially after a FOOSH injury or repetitive use, can be signs of joint instability:
Ligament injury or tear – Damage to stabilizing ligaments (e.g., scapholunate ligament in the wrist) can cause abnormal movement of the bones
Damage to articular cartilage (such as a labral tear in the shoulder)
Partial or complete dislocation can lead to abnormal positioning and movement of bones
Tendons that have become misaligned or irritated (like the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon in the wrist)
In an inflammatory condition, the following symptoms typically appear:
Insidious onset of pain – The pain gradually develops over time, rather than being linked to a specific traumatic event or mechanical injury.
Redness – The affected area may appear red due to increased blood flow from the inflammatory response.
Swelling – Fluid accumulation or joint effusion often occurs, leading to noticeable swelling.
No mechanism of injury (MOI) – The pain and other symptoms arise without a clear cause, often linked to autoimmune or systemic issues rather than trauma or overuse.
Insidious hand pain refers to pain that develops gradually over time, without an obvious injury or traumatic event. Possible causes of insidious hand pain include:
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
Tendinitis or tenosynovitis
Trigger finger
Gout
Infective arthritis
Polyarthritis
Vascular disorders
Osteoarthritis –
Degeneration of joint cartilage, commonly affecting the thumb (CMC joint), causing stiffness, pain, and swelling.
Rheumatoid arthritis –
An autoimmune condition that leads to joint inflammation, particularly in the small joints of the hands, often accompanied by swelling, stiffness, and deformities.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) –
Compression of the median nerve in the wrist, resulting in pain, numbness, and tingling that may worsen over time, especially at night.
Tendinitis or tenosynovitis –
Chronic overuse or repetitive strain leading to inflammation of the tendons, causing gradual pain and swelling (e.g., De Quervain’s tenosynovitis).
Trigger finger –
Inflammation or thickening of the tendons, making finger movement painful and causing locking or catching.
Gout -
Uric acid crystals accumulate in joints, often due to high uric acid levels in the blood
Sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness, and swelling, commonly affecting the small joints of the fingers or wrists
Gout flares often occur at night and can be triggered by diet, alcohol, or dehydration
Infective (Septic) Arthritis -
Bacterial, viral, or fungal infection in the joint, leading to inflammation
Acute onset of severe pain, warmth, redness, and swelling, often accompanied by fever and systemic symptoms
The affected joint may become stiff and difficult to move.
Polyarthritis -
Inflammation of multiple joints, often associated with autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or psoriatic arthritis
Symmetrical involvement of multiple joints, including the hands, with swelling, pain, and morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minute
Vascular Disorders -
Compromised blood flow due to conditions like Raynaud’s phenomenon, peripheral artery disease (PAD), or vasculitis
Cold, pale, or bluish fingers with pain, tingling, or numbness
common deformities associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA):
Boutonniere Deformity of thumb
Ulnar Deviation of Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) Joints
Swan-Neck Deformity of fingers
Boutonniere Deformity
Flexion of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint and hyperextension of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint
Cause: Damage or rupture of the central slip of the extensor tendon at the PIP joint
Ulnar Deviation of Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) Joints
Deviation of the fingers toward the ulnar side (pinky side) at the MCP joints
Cause: weakening of joint capsules and ligaments leads to drifting of the fingers toward the ulnar side
Swan-Neck Deformity
Hyperextension of the PIP joint and flexion of the DIP joint
Cause: Imbalance between the flexor and extensor mechanisms of the finger
Resting position of the hand:
Finger flexion greater moving from radial to ulnar direction, normal arches (longitudinal/transverse), thumb slight abduction
Muscle wasting:
thenar (median n)
1st dorsal interosseous muscle (C7)
hypothenar (ulnar n)
Thenar Muscle Wasting (Median Nerve)
abductor pollicis brevis, flexor pollicis brevis, and opponens pollicis
Compression or damage to the median nerve, often due to conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
the rounded area at the base of the thumb), along with weakness in thumb opposition, abduction, and flexion
struggle with gripping or pinching motions
First Dorsal Interosseous Muscle Wasting (C7)
primarily innervated by the ulnar nerve, but involvement of the C7 nerve root can indirectly impact this muscle
cervical radiculopathy, nerve compression, cubital tunnel syndrome
Wasting between the thumb and index finger (first web space), leading to weakness in finger abduction and reduced pinch strength
Hypothenar Muscle Wasting (Ulnar Nerve)
abductor digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi brevis, and opponens digiti minimi
ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow (cubital tunnel syndrome) or at the wrist (Guyon’s canal syndrome)
Wasting of the hypothenar eminence (the rounded area at the base of the little finger), along with weakness in movements of the pinky finger, including abduction, opposition, and flexion
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
often develops after an injury (e.g., a fracture or surgery) and involves persistent pain, swelling, and autonomic disturbances.
Vasomotor changes: Abnormal skin temperature (cold or warm), skin color changes, and altered sweating.
Trophic changes: Shiny skin, hair loss, brittle or ridged fingernails, and skin atrophy.
Peripheral Nerve Damage (Neuropathy)
Conditions like diabetic neuropathy or entrapment syndromes (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome) can lead to impaired autonomic function.
The affected nerves may cause vasomotor symptoms like temperature differences and trophic changes, including loss of hair and nail brittleness in the distribution of the damaged nerve.