JUNIORBONES
Orthopaedics and trauma for junior orthopaedic trainees and medical students
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    • About
  • Patient evaluation
    • History
    • Examination >
      • Shoulder examination
      • Hip examination
      • Knee examination
      • Foot & ankle examination
      • Spine examination
  • Trauma
    • Orthopaedic emergencies
    • Common trauma referrals >
      • Proximal humerus injuries >
        • Shoulder dislocation
        • Proximal humerus (shoulder) fractures
      • Upper-limb long bone fractures
      • Elbow injuries >
        • Adult elbow fractures
        • Paediatric supracondylar elbow fracture
      • Distal radius fractures
      • Spine trauma
      • Pelvic & acetabular fractures
      • Proximal femur fracture
      • Lower-limb long bone fractures
      • Knee injuries >
        • Fractures at the knee
        • Soft tissue knee injuries
      • Foot & ankle injuries >
        • Ankle fractures
        • Foot fractures
      • Peri-prosthetic fractures
      • Paediatric trauma
      • Septic arthritis >
        • Septic native joints
        • Septic joint replacement
  • Orthopaedic conditions
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Inflammatory & infective arthritis
    • Other joint disorders
    • Spine
    • Paediatric orthopaedics
    • Orthopaedic pathology
  • Cases blog
  • Trauma guidelines
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Examination techniques

Orthopaedic examination of any bone or joint follow the same basic structure:

LOOK - gait (if lower limb), erythema, swelling, scars, deformity, muscle wasting

FEEL - warmth, tenderness, swelling, crepitus

MOVE - range of motion, power

SPECIAL TESTS - joint stability, isolated muscle power, provocative tests

JOINT ABOVE & BELOW - ensure pain not radiating from elsewhere

NEUROVASCULAR - examine neurological and vascular supply to limb

This is followed by INVESTIGATIONS - blood tests, X-rays, further imaging

Each section describes a basic technique to examine the joints regularly seen in the exams and clinics. By following the routine described above, most joints can be examined thoroughly. The text does not provide an exhaustive description of every test available but outlines the commonly used basic examinations.
  • Shoulder examination
  • Hip examination
  • Knee examination
  • Foot & ankle examination
  • Spine examination
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