Show Menu
Cheatography

5002 Case 10 Cheat Sheet by

Hip osteoporotic arthritis (OA) associated w/ mechanical LBP & myofascial pain syndrome (compensation for the hip)

Case

- 67 y.o., pensioner
- Difficulty walking, causing pain in the lower back, R buttock & R groin
- Slight limp when the pain gets worse
- In the last month, has only been playing 9 instead of 18 holes
- Difficulty keeping w/ his friends & doesn't enjoy golf as much
- Limbo-­sacral area (R>L), R buttock R groin
- Lately been feeling pain in R knee
- Onset gradual over last 3 months
- Pain & stiffness
- 5/10
- Getting worse
- No clear pattern; depends on activity
AF: pain & stiffness usually start after walking 2-3 holes, but gradually increase as he plays more holes
- RF: sitting after a round of golf diminishes the pain after a while
- AA: Lately sometimes struggles to finish 9 holes
Extras
- Stopped smoking at 40 y.o. (previ­ously 10-20 cigarettes / day for 20 yrs)
- 2 pints of beer / night
- Father: diagnosed w/ Parkin­son's disease @ 74 y.o.
- Mother: diagnosed w/ RA & had knee replac­ement @ 84 y.o.

Physical Examin­ation Findin­gscal

Gait
- Slight limp on R
ROM
- AROM & PROM Lx: slightly reduced flexion & rotation (R) w/ some discomfort in his lower back & R buttock @ end range
- PROM hips: internal & external rotation of R hip reduced by approx 25% compared to L, w/ pain felt in the R groin; hip flexion & extension slightly limited & painful on R
R glut palpat­ions: tender locally & reproduces some pain into R leg towards his knee
Iliopsoas: tight bilate­rally (R>L)
SLR
- 65° bilate­rally w/ some pulling at hamstrings

Discussion

Working diagnosis
- Hip OA
- Associated w/ mechanical LBP & myofascial pain syndrome (compe­nsation for the hip)
- Sx aggravated w/ activity & relieved w/ rest
- Triage: mechanical / degene­rative
Hip joint
- Doesn't normally refer pain to low back ∴ unlikely cause of the back pain
- Can refer to the knee (& vice-v­ersa) ∴ could be the cause of leg pain towards the knee
→ But pain was reproduced by palpation of gluteal muscles suggesting active trigger points
Differ­entials
- Vascular claudi­cation: pain in thigh, calf, or buttocks that happens when walking
- Inguinal hernia: most common hernia; swelli­ng/lump in groin or enlarged scrotum
- Hip dysplasia: acetabulum is too shallow to support femoral head; females more affected
- Femoro­ace­tabular imping­ement (FAI): extra bone growth of joint causing rubbing against each other
- Labral tears the hip: injury to tissue that holds hip joint together; pain, reduced ROM, sensation of hip locking-up
Previous Hx
- LBP & R leg pain below the knee, worse eon sitting: suggest prior Hx of radicular pain or radiculopathy
→ Current presen­tation doesn't have the same pattern
- Radicu­lopathy due to disc herniation less likely: pain is relieved by sitting, no SMR findings & pain doesn't follow a dermatomal pattern
What other exams could have been conducted?
- Respir­atory exam: former heavy smoker for 20 yrs
- Knee examin­ation: referred hip pain to knee, & vice-versa

Learning Outcomes

Differ­entials for LBP w/ buttock pain
- Muscle strain: results from lifting heavy objects, poor posture, or sudden movements
- Sciatica: can cause sharp shooting pain from lower back through buttocks & down the legs
- Herniated disc: can cause localised pain as well as radiating pain into buttocks & legs
- Spinal stenosis: narrowing of spinal canal; can cause LBP w/ buttock & leg pain that worsens w/ walking or prolonged sitting
- SIJ dysfun­ction: (or inflam­mation) can cause pain in lower back & buttocks
- Piriformis syndrome: tight or spasms, it can compress sciatica nerve; can cause buttock pain that may radiate down the leg
- Spondy­lol­ist­hesis: forward displa­cement of one vertebra over another; can cause lower back pain as well as buttock pain & may be accomp­anied by leg Sx if nerve roots are affected
- Inflam­maotry condit­ions: e.g. ankylosing spondy­litis (type of arthritis affecting spine); can cause chronic LBP & buttock pain (parti­cularly in young adults)
- Infection: e.g. osteom­yelitis (bone infection) or disci tis (disc infect­ion); can cause LBP w/ other Sx like fever & swelling
Pathop­hys­iology of OA
Mechanical stress:
- Repetitive mechanical stress causing micro trauma to cartilage & breakdown
- Abnormal joint mechanics, as above
Inflam­mation:
- Inflam­matory cytokines can cause cartilage breakdown & joint inflammation
Age:
- Ability for cartilage to repair itself decreases w/ age
- More suscep­tible to damage & breakdown
Genetic:
- Predis­pos­itions of OA
- Gene abnorm­alities involved in cartilage metabolism or inflammation
Metabolic:
- Obesity
- Insulin resistance (diabetes) increases risk of OA (through release of inflam­matory mediators & oxidative stress)
Understand all about OA (cartilage breakdown):
Presen­tat­ions:
- Hip pain: deep achefekt in groin or buttock area; worse when weight­-be­aring; improve w/ rest
- Hip stiffness: especially in the morning or after prolonged inactivity
- Decreased ROM
- Cracking or popping sounds
- Weakness of hip muscles: affecting walking, stairs, etc
Diagnosis:
- (w/o imaging): +45 y.o AND have activi­ty-­related pain AND morning stiffness for 30+ min
Manage­ment:
- Local muscle streng­the­ning, general aerobic fitness
- Doing regular & consistent exercise, though may initially cause pain/discomfort
- Manual therapy alongside therap­eutic exercise
- NO acupun­cture
Referral patterns for trigger points in muscles of the buttock
- Gluteus medius: lateral hip, thigh, & buttocks
- Gluteus maximus: posterior thigh & lower leg
- Pirifo­rmis: down posterior thigh & into calf
- Quadratus femoris: hip joint, groin, & knee
- Obturator interns: hip joint & groin
Guidelines for the management of OA, especially hip OA
- Hip is 2nd most common OA location
- Therap­eutic exercise & weight management (if appropriate)
- Provide inform­ation & support
- Exercise, little & often
- Manual therapy: massage, exercises, ROM & strengthening
- Hydrot­herapy is beneficial
Referral guidelines for imaging in a pt w/ suspected OA
- Don't require imaging for diagnosis of OA: medicalHx & examin­ations will suffice
- Imaging findings don't always correlate well w/ the pt's Sx (parti­cularly in early stages of OA)
- No gold standard
- Considered if OA severe, underlying condition or for monitoring
- Possible: X-ray, MRI, & ultrasound

Learning outcomes

Looks like hip OA from Hx and physical examination
- Walking differ­ently causing myofascial problems
- Knee examin­ation SHOULD HAVE been done((­nl))- Hip OA management
- imaging not necessary (no imaging for osteoa­rth­ritis unless daily activities are affected)
KNOW REFERRAL PATTERNS FOR MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINTS - TRIVAIL AND SIMONS
 

Comments

No comments yet. Add yours below!

Add a Comment

Your Comment

Please enter your name.

    Please enter your email address

      Please enter your Comment.

          Related Cheat Sheets

          5002 Case 6 Cheat Sheet
          5002 Case 11 Cheat Sheet
          5002 Case 12 Cheat Sheet

          More Cheat Sheets by bee.f

          5002 Case 5 Cheat Sheet
          6002 Wrist & hand Cheat Sheet
          6002 Ankle & Foot Cheat Sheet