2. Objective
To better identify these Orthopaedic emergencies when
there isn’t an obvious trauma related injury
Discuss certain procedures that ER physicians will need to
be able to perform
Give the appropriate treatment and disposition for the
patient
7. So what’s the difference?
Paronychia Felon
Infection of the lateral nail fold Infection of the pulp space of fingertip
S. aureus or Streptococcus S. aureus
If early, can treat with Keflex and warm
compresses
Treatment: I&D, splint, antibiotic
If late and with pus, will need I&D plus
above
What is the proper way to incise and
drain a felon?
10. HerpeticWhitlow
HSV-1 or HSV-2 (PROTECTYOURSELF FROM
EXPOSURE)
Usually only 1 finger is involved
Treatment:
Acyclovir
Splinting
Pain control
15. Asymmetric polyarticular joint
pain
Reiter’s
“can’t see, can’t pee, can’t climb a tree”
GonococcalArthritis
Associated rash accompanies arthritis
Treat with ceftriaxone
Henoch-Schonlein Purpura
Usually in children
Triad of migratory arthritis, palpable purpuric rash, and abdominal pain
Lyme Disease
Usually affects the knees
Stage III – months to years after initial infection
Treat with doxycycline
16. Case:
58 year old male presents to ED with fever and left knee
pain x 2 days. Knee is swollen, warm, and tender on exam
with decreased range of motion. Labs show an elevated
ESR. Athrocentesis show > 100,000WBC with
predominance of PMNs and low glucose.What is the
diagnosis?
17. Septic Joint
S. aureus
Knee most commonly
affected joint
Diagnosis: arthrocentesis
Treatment: surgical
consultation, IV
antibiotics
19. Synovial Fluid
C – cell count, crystals
Crystals for gout, pseudogout
WBC
< 200 with < 25% PMNs is normal
200-2000 with < 25% PMNs is osteoarthritis
2000-5000 with > 50-75% PMNs is inflammatory
> 50,000 with > 75% PMNs is septic joint
A – appearance
P – protein
S – sugar, stain (gram)
Sugar usually low in septic joint and RA
22. Compartment Syndrome
Usually from trauma but
can be from prolonged
exercise
Pain, decreased 2 point
sensory discrimination,
paresthesia, palpable
tenderness, pallor of skin,
pulselessness
STAT orthopedic
consultation
Measure compartment
pressure and fasciotomy if
pressure is > 30 mmHg
23. Rhabdomyolysis
Causes:
Trauma – crush injuries
Exertion – exercise
Seizures
Body temperature changes – malignant hyperthermia, heat stroke
Drugs – cocaine, alcohol
Labs: CK
> 5x normal
Myoglobinuria
FLUIDS, FLUIDS, FLUIDS
200-1000 mL per hour
Target urine output is 3 mL/kg/hr
Does type of fluid help?
May need dialysis
25. Case:
“You are in the newborn nursery on your pediatrics
rotation as a third year.You’re doing the Ortolani
maneuver on a newborn and you hear a click.What is
going on?”
Congenital Hip Dislocation
Asymmetry seen to skin folds
Needs orthopedics for a Pavlik Harness
26.
27. Case:
“You are working in the Children’s ER when a 5 year old
presents with fever and a limp on gait exam.The affected
leg is flexed, abducted, and externally rotated.What is
going on?”
Septic arthritis of the hip
Same findings on synovial fluid as described above
Usually S. aureus but sickle cell patients can have salmonella
(osteomyelitis)
28. Case:
“You are examining a 8 year old male who appears well
and non-toxic but has pain to the hip and knee with a limp
and inability to bear weight. What is going on?”
Transient toxic synovitis
Sometimes related to a recent viral infection (URI)
Diagnosis of exclusion
Self-limiting - 1 week
Still need joint aspiration to rule out septic joint
29. Case:
“You are examining a 10
year old male who presents
with a limp.There is hip
pain, knee pain, and thigh
pain.There is limited range
of motion to hip with no
fevers, normalWBC, and
normal ESR. Hip XR shows
(picture). What is going
on?”
Legg-Calve-Perthes
Disease
Non-weight bearing
Pain control
30. Case:
“You meet an overweight
13 year old boy who is
eating a cheeseburger in
your ER. He has not been
really able to walk recently.
He complains of hip pain
that radiates down to knee.
Here is his pelvis XR.What
is going on?”
Slipped capital femoral
epiphysis
Orthopedic consult
Admit if bilateral
No weight bearing