Case study: Ankle Pain

S.

CC (chief complaint): “I feel pain in my ankles, but the right one is more intense.”

HPI:

R.K is a 46-year-old A.A female presenting with a chief complaint of pain in her ankles. She reports that the pain in the right ankle is more intense.  The ankle pain began three days ago when she was playing soccer at the women’s soccer club in her church. She states that she heard a pop sound in her right ankle when playing, which was followed by a sudden intense pain on the right ankle, and she was unable to stand on the right foot. She has, however, been able to walk on the right foot, although it is uncomfortable. R.K also reports having some degree of tenderness and swelling on the right ankle. The ankle pain is aggravated by walking and relieved to some degree by OTC Tylenol, which she takes when the pain aggravates. She rates the pain on the left ankle as 3/10 and the right ankle as 6/10 on the pain scale.

Current Medications: OTC Tylenol 1 gm for pain.

Vitamin C supplements.

Allergies: Allergic to penicillin- causes rash, hives, and itchy eyes. No known food or seasonal allergies.

PMHx: Last Influenza shot-7 months ago. Last Tetanus- 3 years ago. No history of chronic illnesses. History of an appendectomy at 34 years. History of Tonsillectomy at 7 years.

Soc Hx:

R.K is a community youth counselor and has a diploma in Counseling. The patient is married. She currently lives with her spouse and three children aged 17, 14, and 8. Her hobbies include traveling and playing football. She is the captain of the women’s soccer club in her church and is the assistant coach for the junior girls’ soccer club. She reports taking wine occasionally but denies smoking tobacco or using illicit substances. She reports having a strict diet and taking about 7 glasses of water a day. The patient states that she has an active lifestyle and takes a morning run for about 40minutes at least 5 days a week. She also plays football on weekends. Her last health exam was 2 years ago.  She states that her support system is her family and sisters.

Fam Hx: Family history of HTN- mother and maternal grandfather. History of breast cancer- paternal grandmother. The elder sister has a history of Asthma. Children are alive and well.

ROS:

GENERAL: Denies elevated body temperature, reduced energy levels, chills, or weight loss/gain.

HEENT:  No history of head trauma, visual changes, hearing loss, ear discharge, nasal discharge/blockage, sneezing, or pain/difficulty swallowing.

SKIN:  Denies color changes, itching, or lesions.

CARDIOVASCULAR:  No history of swelling, chest discomfort, heart palpitations, or dyspnea at rest or exertion.

RESPIRATORY:  No history of chest pain, cough, sputum, or dyspnea.

GASTROINTESTINAL:  Denies appetite changes, nausea/ vomiting, abdominal discomfort, or diarrhea/constipation.

GENITOURINARY:  Denies abnormal PV discharge, dysuria, or urinary frequency/urgency. LMP-3 weeks ago.

NEUROLOGICAL: Negative for dizziness, headache, paralysis, or burning sensations in the extremities.

MUSCULOSKELETAL: Positive for ankle pain and swelling. Limitations in movement. Denies joint stiffness/pain/enlargement.

HEMATOLOGIC:  No history of bleeding or blood transfusion.

PSYCHIATRIC:  Denies history of mental illnesses.

ENDOCRINOLOGIC: Negative for excessive perspirations, cold/heat intolerance, excessive urination, or acute thirst.

ALLERGIES: Allergic to penicillin.

O.

Physical exam:

VITAL SIGNS: BP- 126/74; HR- 98; RR-20; Temp-98.78 F

HT-5’4; WT- 136 pounds.

GENERAL: Neat and well-groomed female in no acute distress. Alert and oriented X4. Speech is clear and goal-directed. Maintains eye contact and exhibits a positive attitude.

CARDIOVASCULAR: Negative for JVD or edema. RRR; S1and S2 audible. No gallop sounds or murmurs heard on auscultations.

RESPIRATORY: Smooth and uniform respirations. Chest clear on auscultation.

MUSCULOSKELETAL: No skin color changes at the ankles.

Left Ankle- No bruising, swelling, or loss of function. Mild tenderness at the anterior aspects of the lateral malleoli. Negative ligamentous laxity with anterior drawer and talar tilt testing.  Decreased total ankle motion of 2 degrees. No bony point tenderness. No difficulty bearing weight.

Right ankle- Bruising present. Moderate tenderness at the maximal points of the anterior (ATFL) aspect of the lateral malleoli on the right ankle. Positive anterior drawer test, negative talar tilt test- moderate joint instability. Some loss of function. Decreased total ankle motion of 7 degrees. Pain with weight-bearing and walking. No bony point tenderness.

Diagnostic results:

X-ray of the right ankle: An X-ray will be required to exclude fractures.

The Ottawa ankle rules indicate that ankle radiographs should be obtained in the event of pain in the malleolar region and any of the following: Pain on the posterior margin of the distal 6 cm or apex of the lateral malleolus; Pain on the posterior margin of the distal 6 cm or apex of the medial malleolus; and Incapacity to bear weight right away after an injury and for four steps during the assessment (Wells et al., 2019).

A.

Differential Diagnoses

Acute Lateral Ankle Sprain

An ankle sprain entails an inversion-type twist of the foot, accompanied by pain and edema. Lateral ankle sprains are the most prevalent injury in physically active populations, primarily among teenagers and young adults (Herzog et al., 2019). Clinical features of ankle sprains include pain, tenderness, swelling, bruising, muscle spasm, and cold foot or paresthesia, which suggest possible neurovascular compromise (Herzog et al., 2019). According to Wells et al. (2019), ankle sprains are categorized as Grade I, II, and III. Grade I have minimal tenderness and swelling, no loss of function, decreased total ankle motion of 5 degrees and below, and swelling of 0.5 cm or below as measured by figure-of-eight testing.

Grade II is characterized by bruising, moderate tenderness, a decreased ROM between 5-10 degrees, moderate swelling of 0.5-2.0cm, and ankle instability (Wells et al., 2019).  Grade III presents with bruising, significant swelling of greater than 2.0 cm, near-total loss of function, ankle instability, extreme point tenderness, and decreased ankle ROM > 10 degrees.

Acute Lateral Ankle Sprain is the presumptive diagnosis based on the positive findings in the right ankle, including bruises, some loss of function tenderness at the anterior aspect of the lateral malleoli, moderate joint instability, reduced ROM of 7 degrees, and pain with weight-bearing and walking. The right ankle symptoms are consistent with a grade II lateral ankle sprain.

Acute Achilles tendon ruptures

Individuals with an Achilles tendon rupture often present with a primary symptom of a sudden snap in the lower calf accompanied by acute, severe pain. According to Egger and Berkowitz (2017), Achilles tendon rupture commonly occurs in healthy, active, young- to middle-aged persons, mostly from 37 to 43.5 years old. Patients often report experiencing a popping or giving way feeling in their posterior heel after pushing off (Egger & Berkowitz, 2017). Immediate pain occurs but slowly resolves, leaving a person with difficulty with plantar flexion, weight-bearing, or limping. Besides, the person cannot stand their toes on the affected side (Egger & Berkowitz, 2017). Achilles tendon rupture is a differential diagnosis based on findings of ankle pain, popping sensation that occurred during the ankle injury, and difficulties with bearing weight.

Right Ankle Fracture

While lateral ankle sprains comprise 90% of all ankle injuries, whereas an ankle fracture occurs only in 15% of the injuries, ankle fractures occur due to a twisting mechanism sustained from a low-energy injury (Lawson et al., 2018). A fractured ankle presents with severe pain, swelling, ecchymosis, and soft tissue injuries, such as abrasions and lacerations. Other features include loss of function, limited range of motion, compromised neurovascular status, and positive talar tilt and drawer testing (Lawson et al., 2018). A Right Ankle fracture is a differential diagnosis based on pertinent positives of pain, bruising, loss of function, reduced ROM, and positive talar tilt and drawer testing indicating joint instability.

References

Egger, A. C., & Berkowitz, M. J. (2017). Achilles tendon injuries. Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine, 10(1), 72–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-017-9386-7

Herzog, M. M., Kerr, Z. Y., Marshall, S. W., & Wikstrom, E. A. (2019). Epidemiology of ankle sprains and chronic ankle instability. Journal of athletic training, 54(6), 603-610. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-447-17

Lawson, K. A., Ayala, A. E., Morin, M. L., Latt, L. D., & Wild, J. R. (2018). Ankle fracture-dislocations: a review. Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics, 3(3), 2473011418765122. https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011418765122

Wells, B., Allen, C., Deyle, G., & Croy, T. (2019). MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE GRADE II LATERAL ANKLE SPRAINS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON LIGAMENT PROTECTION: A DESCRIPTIVE CASE SERIES. International journal of sports physical therapy, 14(3), 445–458. https://doi.org/10.26603/ijspt20190445

Note:  Your Discussion post should be in the SOAP Note format, rather than the traditional narrative style Discussion posting format. Refer to the Comprehensive SOAP Template in the attachments below for guidance.

CASE: Ankle Pain

A 46-year-old female reports pain in both of her ankles, but she is more concerned about her right ankle. She was playing soccer over the weekend and heard a “pop.” She is able to bear weight, but it is uncomfortable. In determining the cause of the ankle pain, based on your knowledge of anatomy, what foot structures are likely involved? What other symptoms need to be explored? What are your differential diagnoses for ankle pain? What physical examination will you perform? What special maneuvers will you perform? Should you apply the Ottowa ankle rules to determine if you need additional testing? Case study: Ankle Pain

To prepare:

With regard to the case study you were assigned:

·         Review this week’s Learning Resources, and consider the insights they provide about the case study.

·         Consider what history would be necessary to collect from the patient in the case study you were assigned.

·         Consider what physical exams and diagnostic tests would be appropriate to gather more information about the patient’s condition. How would the results be used to make a diagnosis?

·         Identify at least five possible conditions that may be considered in a differential diagnosis for the patient.

Address all these in the SOAP Note not an Narrative Essay (Follow the SOAP Note Template on the attachment):

1.     A description of the health history you would need to collect from the patient in the case study to which you were assigned.

2.     Explain what physical exams and diagnostic tests would be appropriate and how the results would be used to make a diagnosis.

3.     List five different possible conditions for the patient’s differential diagnosis, and justify why you selected each.

4.     Include how the patient X-ray (in the attachment below)  helped you to refine the differential diagnosis

5. Please address also all the questions on the case above in the SOAP note.

REMINDER:Please make a SOAP NOTE for this case. Make your own patient’s data, applicable health history, review of systems, P.E., labs, differential diagnosis, final diagnosis etc. Incorporate the data from the case in the SOAP note that you will do… This is not a narrative essay ok…. I need SOAP note (Nurse Practitioner/RN/MD  makes SOAP note)… Be guided with the SOAP Note in the templates/exemplar… Don’t copy paste. Formulate your own… Don’t forget to cite the Five different possible conditions (Differential diagnosis) and have Reference lists too.

Resources:

·         Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., Flynn, J. A., Solomon, B. S., & Stewart, R. W. (2015). Seidel’s guide to physical examination (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.

o    Review of Chapter 4, “Vital Signs and Pain Assessment” (pp. 50-63)

o    Chapter 21, “Musculoskeletal System” (pp. 501-543)

This chapter describes the process of assessing the musculoskeletal system. In addition, the authors explore the anatomy and physiology of the musculoskeletal system.

Dains, J. E., Baumann, L. C., & Scheibel, P. (2016). Advanced health assessment and clinical diagnosis in primary care (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.

o    Chapter 22, “Limb Pain” (pp. 356-374)

This chapter outlines how to take a focused history and perform a physical exam to determine the cause of limb pain. It includes a discussion of the most common tests used to assess musculoskeletal disorders.

o    Chapter 24, “Low Back Pain (Acute)” (pp. 288-300)

The focus of this chapter is the identification of the causes of lower back pain. It includes suggested physical exams and potential diagnoses.

Sullivan, D. D. (2012). Guide to clinical documentation (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis.

o    Chapter 2, “The Comprehensive History and Physical Exam” (“Muscle Strength Grading”; p. 26)

o    Chapter 4, “Pediatric Preventative Care Visits” (“Documentation of Important Components of Age Specific Physical Exams and Sports Pediatric Sports Participation Physical Exam”; pp. 78–79)

Note: Download this Adult Examination Checklist and Physical Exam Summary: Abdomen to use during your practice musculoskeletal examination.

Seidel, H. M., Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., Flynn, J. A., Solomon, B. S., & Stewart, R. W. (2011). Adult examination checklist: Guide for musculoskeletal assessment. In Mosby’s guide to physical examination (7th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
This Adult Examination Checklist: Guide for Musculoskeletal Assessment was published as a companion to Seidel’s guide to physical examination (8th ed.), by Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., & Flynn, J. A. Copyright Elsevier (2015). From https://evolve.elsevier.com/

Seidel, H. M., Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., Flynn, J. A., Solomon, B. S., & Stewart, R. W. (2011). Physical exam summary: Musculoskeletal system. In Mosby’s guide to physical examination (7th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
This Musculoskeletal System Physical Exam Summary was published as a companion to Seidel’s guide to physical examination(8th ed.), by Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., & Flynn, J. A. Copyright Elsevier (2015). From https://evolve.elsevier.com/

Katz, J. N., Lyons, N., Wolff, L. S., Silverman, J., Emrani, P., Holt, H. L., & …Losina, E. (2011). Medical decision-making among Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites with chronic back and knee pain: A qualitative study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 12(1), 78–85.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This study examines the medical decision making among Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. The authors also analyze the preferred information sources used for making decisions in these populations.

Vismara, L., Menegoni, F., Zaina, F., Galli, M., Negrini, S., & Capodaglio, P. (2010). Effect of obesity and low back pain on spinal mobility: A cross sectional study in women. Journal of Neuroengineering & Rehabilitation, 7(1), 71–83.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

In this study, the authors explore the effect of obesity and chronic low back pain on spinal mobility. The authors use range of motion as a metric of spinal mobility.

University of Virginia. (n.d.). Introduction to radiology: An online interactive tutorial. Retrieved fromhttp://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/courses/rad/index.html
This website provides an introduction to radiology and imaging. For this week, focus on skeletal trauma in musculoskeletal radiology.

Media

Online media for Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination

In addition to this week’s resources, it is highly recommended that you access and view the resources included with the course text, Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination. Focus on the videos and animations in Chapter 21 that relate to the assessment of the musculoskeletal system. Refer to the Week 4 Learning Resources area for access instructions on https://evolve.elsevier.com/.

·         LeBlond, R. F., Brown, D. D., & DeGowin, R. L. (2009). DeGowin’s diagnostic examination (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill Medical.

o    Chapter 13, “The Spine, Pelvis, and Extremities” (pp. 585–682)

In this chapter, the authors explain the physiology of the spine, pelvis, and extremities. The chapter also describes how to examine the spine, pelvis, and extremities.