Anatomy clinical correlates: Arm, elbow and forearm
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Anatomy clinical correlates: Arm, elbow and forearm
Prerequisite basic sciences
Prerequisite basic sciences
Anatomy clinical correlates: Anterior and posterior abdominal wall
Anatomy clinical correlates: Inguinal region
Anatomy clinical correlates: Peritoneum and diaphragm
Anatomy clinical correlates: Viscera of the gastrointestinal tract
Anatomy clinical correlates: Other abdominal organs
Appendicitis: Pathology review
Complications during pregnancy: Pathology review
Diverticular disease: Pathology review
Gallbladder disorders: Pathology review
GERD, peptic ulcers, gastritis, and stomach cancer: Pathology review
Inflammatory bowel disease: Pathology review
Mood disorders: Pathology review
Pancreatitis: Pathology review
Anatomy clinical correlates: Female pelvis and perineum
Cervical cancer: Pathology review
Complications during pregnancy: Pathology review
Uterine disorders: Pathology review
Anatomy clinical correlates: Heart
Anatomy clinical correlates: Mediastinum
Anatomy clinical correlates: Pleura and lungs
Anatomy clinical correlates: Thoracic wall
Aortic dissections and aneurysms: Pathology review
Coronary artery disease: Pathology review
Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: Pathology review
GERD, peptic ulcers, gastritis, and stomach cancer: Pathology review
Pleural effusion, pneumothorax, hemothorax and atelectasis: Pathology review
ECG cardiac infarction and ischemia
Pigmentation skin disorders: Pathology review
Skin cancer: Pathology review
Papulosquamous and inflammatory skin disorders: Pathology review
Anatomy clinical correlates: Pleura and lungs
Anatomy clinical correlates: Thoracic wall
GERD, peptic ulcers, gastritis, and stomach cancer: Pathology review
Lung cancer and mesothelioma: Pathology review
Nasal, oral and pharyngeal diseases: Pathology review
Obstructive lung diseases: Pathology review
Pneumonia: Pathology review
Tuberculosis: Pathology review
Chest X-ray interpretation: Clinical sciences
Amnesia, dissociative disorders and delirium: Pathology review
Cerebral vascular disease: Pathology review
Dementia: Pathology review
Electrolyte disturbances: Pathology review
Mood disorders: Pathology review
Hypothyroidism: Pathology review
Mood disorders: Pathology review
Anatomy clinical correlates: Facial (CN VII) and vestibulocochlear (CN VIII) nerves
Cardiomyopathies: Pathology review
Cerebral vascular disease: Pathology review
Heart blocks: Pathology review
Supraventricular arrhythmias: Pathology review
Valvular heart disease: Pathology review
Ventricular arrhythmias: Pathology review
Vertigo: Pathology review
ECG axis
ECG cardiac hypertrophy and enlargement
ECG intervals
ECG normal sinus rhythm
ECG QRS transition
ECG rate and rhythm
Kidney stones: Pathology review
Sexually transmitted infections: Vaginitis and cervicitis: Pathology review
Sexually transmitted infections: Warts and ulcers: Pathology review
Urinary tract infections: Pathology review
Central nervous system infections: Pathology review
Nasal, oral and pharyngeal diseases: Pathology review
Pneumonia: Pathology review
Shock: Pathology review
Urinary tract infections: Pathology review
Anatomy clinical correlates: Anterior blood supply to the brain
Anatomy clinical correlates: Temporal regions, oral cavity and nose
Central nervous system infections: Pathology review
Cerebral vascular disease: Pathology review
Headaches: Pathology review
Traumatic brain injury: Pathology review
Vasculitis: Pathology review
Anatomy clinical correlates: Arm, elbow and forearm
Anatomy clinical correlates: Axilla
Anatomy clinical correlates: Bones, fascia and muscles of the neck
Anatomy clinical correlates: Bones, joints and muscles of the back
Anatomy clinical correlates: Clavicle and shoulder
Anatomy clinical correlates: Foot
Anatomy clinical correlates: Hip, gluteal region and thigh
Anatomy clinical correlates: Knee
Anatomy clinical correlates: Leg and ankle
Anatomy clinical correlates: Median, ulnar and radial nerves
Anatomy clinical correlates: Wrist and hand
Seronegative and septic arthritis: Pathology review
Apnea, hypoventilation and pulmonary hypertension: Pathology review
Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: Pathology review
Heart failure: Pathology review
Nephrotic syndromes: Pathology review
Renal failure: Pathology review
Anatomy clinical correlates: Anterior and posterior abdominal wall
Anatomy clinical correlates: Bones, joints and muscles of the back
Anatomy clinical correlates: Vertebral canal
Aortic dissections and aneurysms: Pathology review
Back pain: Pathology review
Anatomy clinical correlates: Inguinal region
Anatomy clinical correlates: Male pelvis and perineum
Penile conditions: Pathology review
Prostate disorders and cancer: Pathology review
Testicular and scrotal conditions: Pathology review
Testicular tumors: Pathology review
Anatomy clinical correlates: Pleura and lungs
Coronary artery disease: Pathology review
Obstructive lung diseases: Pathology review
Pleural effusion, pneumothorax, hemothorax and atelectasis: Pathology review
Bronchodilators: Beta 2-agonists and muscarinic antagonists
Bronchodilators: Leukotriene antagonists and methylxanthines
Pulmonary corticosteroids and mast cell inhibitors
Anatomy clinical correlates: Ear
Anatomy clinical correlates: Temporal regions, oral cavity and nose
Nasal, oral and pharyngeal diseases: Pathology review
Sexually transmitted infections: Vaginitis and cervicitis: Pathology review
Prerequisite basic sciences
Anxiety disorders, phobias and stress-related disorders: Pathology Review
Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis: Pathology review
Back pain: Pathology review
Bone disorders: Pathology review
Coronary artery disease: Pathology review
Diabetes mellitus: Pathology review
Drug misuse, intoxication and withdrawal: Alcohol: Pathology review
Drug misuse, intoxication and withdrawal: Hallucinogens: Pathology review
Drug misuse, intoxication and withdrawal: Other depressants: Pathology review
Drug misuse, intoxication and withdrawal: Stimulants: Pathology review
Dyslipidemias: Pathology review
Heart failure: Pathology review
Hypertension: Pathology review
Mood disorders: Pathology review
Obstructive lung diseases: Pathology review
Peripheral artery disease: Pathology review
Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis: Pathology review
Assessments
Anatomy clinical correlates: Arm, elbow and forearm
USMLE® Step 1 questions
0 / 9 complete
USMLE® Step 2 questions
0 / 9 complete
Questions
USMLE® Step 1 style questions USMLE
of complete
USMLE® Step 2 style questions USMLE
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Transcript
The majority of things we do every day require the use of our arms and forearms. Sometimes we forget how heavily we rely on our arms, and are quickly reminded how important they are when injury occurs. So, let's take a look at common injuries occurring to the arm and forearm.
Alright, let's begin by looking at fractures of the humerus, the main bone of the arm. The most common kind are fractures of the surgical neck of the humerus, which occur more frequently in elderly people with osteoporosis who have structurally weaker bones. The cause is usually indirect trauma, like falling on the hand with an extended arm.
Surgical neck fractures can result in damage to nearby structures, such as the axillary nerve causing cutaneous deficits in the proximal lateral arm, as well as damage to the anterior and posterior circumflex humeral arteries.
Next, there are humeral shaft fractures, which are usually caused by direct trauma. Now, remember that the radial nerve passes through the radial, or spiral, groove on the back of the humerus, so a common complication of midshaft humeral fractures is radial nerve injury.
Radial nerve injury results in damage to the extensors of the wrist and potential wrist drop, as well as cutaneous sensation dysfunction of the dorsal hand, forearm, and upper arm. Additionally, the deep brachial artery travels with the radial nerve in the spiral groove and can also be damaged. Finally, distal humeral fractures are a result of trauma to the elbow region, or hyperextension injuries.
In a supracondylar fracture, which is a fracture above the epicondyles, an anteriorly displaced portion of the fractured humerus on the medial supracondylar region could injure the median nerve, resulting in wrist flexion weakness and cutaneous deficits of the anterior 3 and a half digits, as well as the brachial vessels.
Sources
- "Interventions for treating proximal humeral fractures in adults" Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2015)
- "Olecranon bursitis" Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (2016)
- "Treatment of olecranon bursitis: a systematic review" Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery (2014)
- "The fate of missed atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation in children" Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery (1998)
- "Low incidence of flexion-type supracondylar humerus fractures but high rate of complications" Acta Orthopaedica (2016)
- "Medial Epicondylitis" Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (2015)
- "Humerus fractures overview" StatPearls Publishing (2021)
- "Humeral shaft fractures" StatPearls Publishing (2021)
- "Fracture supracondylar humerus: a review" J Clin Diagn Res (2016)
- "Golfers elbow" StatPearls Publishing (2021)
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