ABSTRACT
Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) may account for 90-95% of cases of low back pain presenting to primary care. Clinicians should remain vigilant however to non-spinal musculoskeletal conditions that may mimic NSLBP and musculoskeletal complaints. We present a case of a 38-year-old female with low back pain, lower limb tightness, groin pain, and leg cramps. Symptoms failed to improve with physiotherapy and subsequent blood tests revealed elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and elevated thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO). The patient was diagnosed with hypothyroidism secondary to Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), an autoimmune endocrine thyroid disorder. Levothyroxine 100 microgram(µg) was prescribed, and clinical symptoms improved within eight weeks. Clinicians may wish to consider thyroid dysfunction when patients with common musculoskeletal complaints, weight gain, and fatigue respond atypically to evidence-based physiotherapy management.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: A Morel-Lavallée lesion is a relatively rare, closed, degloving injury. Polytrauma and severe injuries through to seemingly innocuous trauma can distract the clinician from thorough assessment of the affected site. Missed or misdiagnosis of the closed lesion is reported from both a clinical and imaging perspective. CASE REPORT: A 46-year-old male is discharged from accident and emergency with a shoulder injury following a cycling accident. Ten days post trauma, an advanced practice physiotherapist suspects a lateral thigh Morel-Lavallée lesion during a telephone assessment (Covid-19 restrictions). A face to face appointment with imaging the following day confirmed the suspicion. DISCUSSION: The aetiology, imaging and clinical management of a Morel-Lavallée lesion is discussed. The addition of diagnostic ultrasound skills to clinical assessment in this case report may have improved patient care and experience by offering a 'one stop shop' to care. Formal training in musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging is emphasised. CONCLUSION: Thorough history taking, clinical reasoning and subsequent application of robust imaging led to the identification of a Morel-Lavellée lesion and, in this case, highlights the value of a point of care ultrasound model in a triage setting.
ABSTRACT
A shortcut review was carried out to see whether the hook test is sensitive enough for a negative result to exclude complete distal biceps tendon rupture (DBTR) in adults. 3 papers presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these papers are tabulated. It is concluded that the hook test is moderately sensitive at detecting complete DBTR when carried out by skilled clinicians in specialist upper limb clinics. As a single test, it is not sensitive enough to be used to exclude complete DBTR.
