Orthopedics

A

• Achilles Tendon Rupture — Diagnosis & Functional Rehab

  Diagnose with positive Thompson test and gap; ultrasound helpful. Nonoperative functional rehab yields comparable outcomes to surgery with early mobilization; surgery for high‑demand or large gaps.
• Acute Compartment Syndrome - Recognition and Fasciotomy

  Severe pain out of proportion and pain with passive stretch are early signs; do not delay fasciotomy for pressure measurements when the exam is reliable.
• Acute Compartment Syndrome — Clinical Diagnosis and Emergent Fasciotomy

  Severe pain out of proportion, pain with passive stretch, and tense compartments suggest compartment syndrome. Do not delay for imaging. Measure compartment pressures if uncertain; delta pressure ≤30 mmHg indicates fasciotomy. Remove constrictive dressings and keep limb at heart level.
• Acute Compartment Syndrome — Clinical Diagnosis and Fasciotomy Timing

  Emergent limb‑threatening condition recognized by severe pain out of proportion, pain with passive stretch, tense compartments, paresthesias, and evolving motor deficits. When exam is equivocal, measure pressures; a delta‑pressure (diastolic minus intracompartment) ≤30 mmHg supports diagnosis. Remove constrictive dressings, keep limb at heart level, and perform prompt fasciotomy—ideally within 6 hours of ischemia.
• Adhesive Capsulitis — Staging & Treatment

  Frozen shoulder progresses through painful, stiff, and recovery phases. Treat with analgesia and structured PT; consider intra‑articular steroid injection; MUA or arthroscopic release for refractory cases.
• Ankle Injury - Ottawa Rules and Initial Management

  Use Ottawa rules to decide imaging, manage sprains with protection and early mobilization, and ensure follow up for high risk fractures and syndesmotic injuries.
• Anterior Shoulder Dislocation - Reduction and Aftercare

  Perform pre and post neurovascular exam with focus on axillary nerve, provide adequate analgesia and reduction with a familiar technique, immobilize briefly, and arrange early rehabilitation.

C

• Cauda Equina Syndrome — Red Flags, MRI, and Urgent Decompression

  Back pain with bilateral sciatica, saddle anesthesia, and urinary retention/incontinence suggests CES. Obtain emergent MRI and perform urgent decompression (usually L4–S1) to maximize neurologic recovery; treat underlying causes (disc herniation, tumor, abscess).
• Compartment Syndrome — Recognition and Fasciotomy

  Orthopedic emergency: severe pain out of proportion and with passive stretch; measure pressures when uncertain; urgent fasciotomy when clinical concern is high.

F

• Fat Embolism Syndrome — Long-Bone Fractures to ARDS

  After long‑bone fracture or orthopedic trauma, patient develops hypoxemia, neurologic changes, and petechial rash—consistent with fat embolism syndrome (FES).

H

• Hip Fracture in Older Adults - Perioperative Care

  Provide regional analgesia when available, correct reversible issues, target surgery within 24 to 48 hours, start VTE prophylaxis, and prevent delirium.
• Hip Labral Tear — Diagnosis & Nonoperative Care

  Labral tears often occur with femoroacetabular impingement. Initial management is activity modification and PT; consider intra‑articular injections; arthroscopy for persistent symptoms with imaging correlation.
• Humeral Shaft Fracture - Radial Nerve Palsy

  Many palsies are neuropraxia that recover with observation; functional bracing is common, while surgery is indicated for open fracture, failure of alignment, or nerve transection.

L

• Lateral Epicondylitis — Nonoperative Treatments

  Overuse tendinopathy of wrist extensors (ECRB). Eccentric strengthening and activity modification are mainstays; injections provide short‑term relief but limited long‑term benefit.
• Limb Compartment Syndrome — Diagnosis and Fasciotomy

  Severe pain out of proportion, pain with passive stretch, and tense compartments suggest the diagnosis; obtain pressures when unclear and arrange urgent fasciotomy.
• Lumbar Spinal Stenosis — Diagnosis & Management

  Neurogenic claudication with pain improved by flexion. First‑line: exercise therapy, analgesics; consider epidural steroids for short‑term relief; surgery (decompression ± fusion) for refractory disabling symptoms.

M

• Meniscal Tear — Nonoperative vs Arthroscopic Management

  Degenerative tears often respond to exercise therapy; reserve arthroscopy for persistent mechanical symptoms or locked knees. Acute traumatic tears in young athletes may benefit from repair.

O

• Open Fracture - Initial Management and Antibiotics

  Cover with sterile dressing, splint, give early IV antibiotics and tetanus update, avoid aggressive field irrigation, and arrange urgent operative debridement and fixation.

P

• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome — Diagnosis & Therapy

  Anterior knee pain from overload/maltracking. Treat with activity modification, hip/glute strengthening, taping, and footwear/orthoses; avoid routine arthroscopy.
• Plantar Fasciitis — Evaluation & Treatment

  Heel pain due to plantar fasciopathy. First‑line: activity modification, stretching (plantar fascia/calf), heel cups, night splints, and gradual load. Most improve within 6–12 months; injections/ESWT for refractory cases.
• Prosthetic Hip Dislocation - Reduction and Aftercare

  Confirm with imaging, attempt closed reduction with adequate sedation when safe, obtain post reduction films, use abduction pillow and precautions, and refer for revision if recurrent.

S

• Scaphoid Fracture — Imaging & Immobilization

  High suspicion with snuffbox tenderness after FOOSH. Initial radiographs can be negative; immobilize and repeat imaging or obtain MRI. Non‑displaced waist fractures often cast; proximal pole and displaced need surgery.
• Septic Arthritis - Native Joint Urgent Management

  Perform urgent arthrocentesis for cell count, gram stain, and culture, start empiric IV antibiotics after cultures, and arrange operative washout for hip or shoulder or when poor response.
• Septic Arthritis — Adult

  Acute monoarthritis is septic arthritis until proven otherwise; perform arthrocentesis for cell count, Gram stain, and culture; start empiric IV antibiotics and consult orthopedics for drainage.
• Septic Bursitis - Olecranon and Prepatellar

  Aspiration confirms diagnosis; treat with antibiotics targeting staphylococci, immobilize, and consider drainage when large or refractory.
• Shoulder Dislocation — Reduction Techniques & Rehab

  Anterior dislocation most common. Use analgesia/sedation or intra‑articular lidocaine, choose gentle reduction techniques, and immobilize briefly with early rehab; assess for Bankart/Hill‑Sachs and recurrent instability.
• Suspected Scaphoid Fracture - Negative Radiograph

  Snuffbox tenderness with normal radiograph warrants thumb spica immobilization and repeat imaging or advanced imaging to avoid nonunion.