Hip and Knee Pain Module

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Hip and Knee Pain Module Hip and Knee Pain 2017 Summary Page © Jason E. Liebowitz, MD, John Flynn MD/Ambulatory Curriculum Section 1: Hip Pain Location of symptoms by history DDX (All include articular hip disease) Deep groin Renal colic, psoas abscess, pelvic inflammatory disease, osteitis pubis Anterior/inguinal Inguinal hernia, iliopsoas bursitis, renal colic, vascular insufficiency Trochanteric bursitis, tendonitis of hip abductors, lumbosacral spine disease, Lateral meralgia paresthetica (anterolateral thigh) Buttock Lumbosacral spine disease, ischial bursitis, vascular insufficiency • Assess bony landmarks, bursae, inguinal contents, buttocks, and hip range of motion. o Internal rotation and abduction typically the first affected with articular hip disease • Patrick’s test: flex hip and knee on symptomatic side, place lateral malleolus of ankle on contralateral knee. Patient should be able to lower examined leg to level of unexamined leg; failure to do so suggests articular hip disease. Pressure on flexed knee and contralateral anterior superior iliac spine can elicit arthritis of sacroiliac joint. • Trendelenburg test: patient stands on leg of affected side. Contralateral pelvis should be at or above horizontal. Drooping of pelvis below horizontal suggests hip abductor (gluteus medius) weakness Diseases of the hip • Osteoarthritis: The most common cause of hip pain; prevalence increases with increasing age o Patients describe pain deep in hip worse walking up stairs, flexing hip to tie shoes or trim toenails o Symptoms exacerbated by walking, relieved by rest, worst at the end of the day o Treatment includes weight loss, NSAIDs. Joint replacement if unresponsive • Inflammatory causes include gout, pseudogout, and septic arthritis, all of which are uncommon. Pain radiating to buttock/groin is typical. • Trochanteric bursitis: Seen in women more than men, esp. those in fourth-sixth decades o Risk factors include local trauma, leg length inequalities, jogging o Pain described as deep ache laterally, worse with walking, squatting, climbing stairs; patients avoid sleeping on affected side o Exam demonstrated tenderness over greater trochanter; treatment is rest/NSAIDS and steroid injection • Ischiogluteal bursitis (Ischial bursitis): Seen in people who sit on hard surfaces for prolonged periods o Exam shows exquisite tenderness over ischial bursa o Treatment includes seat cushions, NSAIDs, steroid injection • Meralgia paresthetica: Dysesthesia of anterolateral thigh due to irritation of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve o Risk factors include obesity, pregnancy, ascites, restrictive clothing, surgical trauma o Lateral thigh burning, dysesthesias, or anesthesia described; no motor symptoms seen o Treatment directed at underlying cause Section 2: Knee Pain • Degenerative changes much more common as age increases • Overuse, injury, Reiter’s syndrome, Ankylosing spondylitis, disseminated gonococcal infection, Lyme disease more common in young • Rheumatoid arthritis, gout more common causes ages 30-50 • On physical exam, knee should be cooler than extremities and have a negative bulge sign • Lachman test: tests ACL. Supine patient, flex knee 20-30 degrees with heel on table. Pull calf forward relative to thigh. Normal test results in definitive stop when pulling. • Anterior drawer test: tests ACL. Similar to Lachman, but knee flexed 90 degrees. • Posterior drawer test: tests PCL. Reverse of anterior drawer test. • McMurray test: tests torn meniscus. Patient supine, elevate leg and flex knee. Examiner extends knee, rotating internally and then externally. Torn meniscus will give popping sensation or inability to straighten knee. Diseases of the knee • Osteoarthritis: prior injury, obesity, heavy work are major risk factors o Symptoms worse with use and better at end of day; acute flares may be seen, and small effusions common o Treatment is acetaminophen, followed by NSAIDs and physical therapy if ineffective. Glucosamine/chondroitin controversial • Inflammatory causes include gout, pseudogout (less common), septic arthritis (the knee is the most commonly infected joint), SLE (symmetric presentation), or Lyme. All may present with pain, erythema, effusion (which are less impressive in SLE and Lyme). • Ligament injury: typically associated with prior injury. Treatment usually surgical. o Menisci (esp. medial meniscus) injured with twisting forces, although in elderly trauma may be minor . Patients describe knee as locking up on them o Cruciate ligaments occur with anterior or posterior force on the knee, often with popping sound . Patients describe lack of confidence in joint or instability. • Tendonitis: typically occurs with overuse or repetitive injury. Treatment typically NSAIDs, rest. o Patellar tendonitis: aka jumper’s knee; seen in athletes who run/jump. Anterior knee pain worsened with walking, squatting, jumping. Exam shows tenderness over inferior pole of patella o Iliotibial band syndrome: aka runner’s knee; seen in bicyclists, runners. Lateral knee pain worse with running. Exam shows tenderness over lateral epicondyle. • Bursitis o Prepatellar bursitis: seen in carpet layers and those who spend time on knees. Painful anterior knee swelling noted on exam. Aspiration, protective pads, NSAIDs mainstay of treatment o Anserine bursitis: seen in swimmers/runners. Pain and tenderness over medial aspect of upper tibia, often difficult to distinguish from medial collateral ligament injury. NSAIDS and rest for treatment. .
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