Musculoskeletal Conditions - NCLEX-PN

Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory musculoskeletal condition that presents with pain or stiffness, usually in the neck, shoulders, and hips. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a genetic disorder of muscle wasting and neuronal death. Symptoms include progressive muscular weakness, leading to paralysis and death. Guillain–Barré syndrome is a rapid-onset condition of reversible muscle paralysis and weakness following infection, most commonly C ampylobacter jejuni. Myositis is a general term for inflammation of the muscles, and can be due to various causes.

Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by dysfunctional production of dystrophin, a protein that is part of a complex of proteins that anchor the cytoskeleton of a muscle cell to the extracellular matrix, also known as the dystrophin-associated protein complex. Its absence disrupts multiple intracellular signaling pathways, leading to muscle necrosis. Dystroglycan is another protein in this complex, but it is unaffected in DMD. Actin and troponin are also unaffected in DMD.

Duchenne's muscular dystrophy is an X-linked recessive disease. Because of this, it is almost exclusively seen in males and rarely presents in females (girls would have to receive a recessive gene on both the X-chromosome from their mother and their father; historically, boys with a defective gene on their X-chromosome rarely lived past their teens, decreasing the likelihood of reproduction).

Myasthenia gravis is a condition in which the immune system makes antibodies to aceytlcholine receptors, thus blocking receptors and preventing the stimulating effect of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. This results in muscle weakness that progresses during activity and improves with rest. Anti-ro antibodies are commonly seen in Sjögren’s syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and anti-dsDNA antibodies are highly specific for SLE.

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a genetic condition characterized by a deficiency of normal type-1 collagen, resulting in the formation of brittle, fragile bones. Bones fracture easily, often with no obvious trauma. Osteogenesis imperfecta has many sub categories that range in severity, several of which are not compatible with life.

Ehlers–Danlos syndrome is a collagen abnormality that primarily affects the skin, joints, and vasculature, causing lax joints and general instability. Marfan syndrome is also a condition of connective tissue abnormality, which largely effects the structure and function of smooth muscle in the cardiovascular system. Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome is a condition of necrosis in the femoral head, not related to any alterations in collagen formation.

Active resistive range of motion is performed by the client against resistance (manual or mechanical). This exercise builds muscle strength. Isometric exercises are performed by the client without motion; rather, the client contracts and relaxes the muscle without moving the joint. This maintains strength in the muscle while the joint is immobilized. Passive range of motion is performed by the nurse without assistance from the client, which retains circulation and range of motion in the joint, Active range of motion is performed by the client without assistance of the nurse and maintains joint mobility and muscle strength. Active assistive range of motion is performed by the client with help of the nurse to increase motion in the joint.

The nurse should begin assessment to determine the cause of the complaint. Obtaining an x-ray for the leg is the best assessment; you need to rule out possible fracture before giving pain medication or bandaging the leg. Heat is inappropriate for this injury because ice is best for sports injuries such as sprains and breaks. Notifying the physician may be done after all assessments are completed.

24 hours after surgery, surgical wounds are expected to drain small to moderate amounts of serous or serosanguinous drainage. The physician does not need to be notified because this observation is expected and not emergent; however, the doctor would be notified if drainage exceeds these expectations. The soiled dressing should be removed and replaced with a new dressing, and the wound site would not be irrigated unless infected; there are no signs of infection noted. The wound should not be open to air due to the risk of infection. The nurse should always document wound appearance and dressing changes.

Osteoporosis is common among elderly women. Patients require important education on how to live with the disease. Lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise should be promoted by the patient during discharge, and should be specific to the patient’s condition. Of the available options, the most accurate and essential information for the nurse to share should concern physical activity and exercise, as osteoporosis affects bone density and body strength. A recommendation for a doctor that specializes in bone pain may be beneficial, but is not a responsibility of the nurse (education is the priority). Patients with osteoporosis that are being discharged usually take ibuprofen to manage pain (not opioids or acetaminophen). A soccer program may not be appropriate for a 70-year-old woman with osteoporosis; a flyer for an adult walking group might be better.

Osgood-Schlatter syndrome of irritation of the patellar ligament at the tibial tuberosity, characterized by painful lumps just below the knee, most often seen in young adolescents. Risk factors may include overzealous exercise but it's ultimately thought to be caused by adolescent bone growth. Osteosarcoma, the most common bone cancer in adolescent populations, can present with pain and a lump or frank swelling. This is caused by actual tumor growth, not by any ligamentous issue. Osteosarcoma does present frequently in the knee, and must be ruled out before a diagnosis of Osgood-Schlatter disease is made. Slipped capital femoral epiphysis causes pain and reduced movement in the hip, rather than the knee. Osteomalacia is a general softening of the bones caused by a deficiency in vitamin D.

Patellofemoral syndrome presents as pain in the front of the knee, sometimes caused by wearing down, roughening, or softening of the cartilage under the kneecap. Osgood-Schlatter disease is a syndrome of irritation of the patellar ligament at the tibial tuberosity, characterized by painful lumps just below the knee, most often seen in young adolescents. Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome is due to disruption of blood flow to the femoral head, leading to avascular necrosis. Congenital scoliosis is a spinal deformity characterized by the curving of the spine at an angle greater than 10 degrees on radiography.

Psoriatic arthritis will often show a pencil-in-cup deformity on x-ray. Osteoarthritis will show joint space narrowing, sclerosis, and osteophytes. Rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis will both show soft tissue swelling, joint space narrowing, and may show marginal erosions.

Swan neck deformity is often seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This is a state in which the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) becomes hyperflexed (bends toward the palm) while the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) is hyperextended (bending away from the palm). Shepherd's crook deformity is seen in Paget's disease of the bone, pencil-in-cup deformity is seen in psoriatic arthritis, and Heberden nodes are frequently seen in the distal phalanges of patients with osteoarthritis.

Duchenne's is the most common and most severe form of muscular dystrophy, accounting for a full 50% of cases of muscular dystrophy in the US. The next most common type is Becker's, followed by myotonic muscular dystrophy and Emery-Dreifuss.

Lambert-Eaton syndrome is a condition of progressive muscle weakness caused by an auto antibodies to presynaptic calcium channels in the neuromuscular junction. This does not allow calcium to enter the presynaptic cell, which is required for neurotransmitter release into the synaptic cleft. Without the release of neurotransmitter, there will be no muscular response. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune condition in which antibodies are formed against acetylcholine receptors, and muscular weakness in multiple sclerosis is caused by destruction of myelin in the CNS due to antibodies against oligodendrocytes. Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory connective tissue condition that may be associated with a post-viral autoimmune reaction or triggered by a paraneoplastic syndrome.

Histological findings of dermatomyositis will generally reveal mixed B cell and T cell perivascular inflammatory infiltrate and perifascicular muscle fiber atrophy.

Fibrosed muscle fibers and fatty infiltrates are typical of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, while granulomas in muscle are rare but may be seen in sarcoidosis and other conditions of granulomatous myositis.

A periorbital heliotrope rash is often seen in dermatomyositis. It is bilateral, symmetric, purpuric, and macular, and erupts over the eyelids and surrounding periorbital area. Malar rash (often called a "butterfly rash") is seen in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Dermatitis herpetiformis is a rash on the elbows and knees generally seen with gluten allergy (celiac disease). Perioral dermatitis is an iatrogenic condition often associated with prolonged use of topical steroid creams.

Polymyositis is characterized by symmetric proximal muscle weakness in the upper and lower extremities, often without the presence of distal muscle weakness. The first sign is often weakness in the thighs while walking, the inability to rise from a seated position without assistance, or the inability to raise the arms above the head.

Dermatomyositis generally includes a characteristic periorbital rash. Weakness is expressed in the neck, arms, and legs. Guillain-Barre syndrome is an ascending paralysis: symptoms start in the hands and feet, then spread proximally as it progresses. Muscular weakness in myasthenia gravis is often especially expressed in muscles of the face and head, especially those that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, chewing, swallowing, and speaking.

A rhabdomyoma is a benign tumors of striated muscle. 90% of adult rhabdomyomas present as round masses in the neck.

Paget's disease of bone is a condition characterized by high bone turnover due to accelerated osteoclast and osteoblast activity. This results in increased calcification of bones, especially prominent in the skull, pelvis, femur, and tibia.

Osteogenesis imperfecta is an issue with collagen formation that causes fragile bones and multiple fractures. Multiple myeloma is a malignancy of plasma calls, and giant cell tumors are rare tumors that generally originate from the epiphysis of long bones (with no effect on bone deposition).