There are special tests you can perform on orthopedic patients who visit your emergency department to get the most accurate diagnosis and affect their ultimate treatment and disposition—surgery, splint, or home. Christopher Hogrefe, MD, FACEP, assistant professor of medicine, emergency medicine, and orthopaedic surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, will go over them during his presentation “Master Clinician Series: The Rapid, High-Yield Ortho Exam in the ED.”
“High-yield exam maneuvers can not only solidify specific diagnoses, but also can help us rule out life- or limb-threatening conditions,” Dr. Hogrefe said. “Because the orthopedic physical exam has been so well-validated in the literature, it can help save patients from unnecessary immobilization or the hours’ wait for advanced imaging.”
Dr. Hogrefe also will discuss when optimal follow up should happen—does it need to be in a day? A week? With a primary care physician rather than an orthopedic surgeon?—and how to interact with orthopedic surgeons. “Exchanging information is a delicate dance,” he said. “They’re looking at and for specific information. We’ll look at what information is important to convey and how to, and perhaps more importantly how not to, convey it.”
Finally, for each joint (shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, ankle, and foot), Dr. Hoegrefe said there are some can’t-miss things that physicians should look for on the physical exam. “These are things you shouldn’t miss, because if you do the consequences can be quite significant,” he said.
Amy E. Hamaker is a Canyon Country, California-based freelance writer.
3 Responses to “Get Orthopedic Exam Tips and Tricks from a Master Clinician”
January 5, 2017
Cindy TeslerThanks for mentioning that there are tests that can be performed to determine if your patient needs surgery or a splint. You also said that high-yield exam maneuvers solidify specific diagnostics. I think it’s important to choose an orthopedic surgeon that makes you feel comfortable about your surgery.
March 1, 2017
John MahoneyThank you for talking about the importance of finding an orthopedic that know how to perform tests. It makes sense that remembering this can help you know what the problem is and how to best treat it. I would want to do my research and contact several professionals before choosing the one that can help me best.
March 16, 2017
Chris WintersAmy, I’m glad to see that orthopedic technology is getting more advanced and will make diagnostics much easier. My brother recently injured his shoulder playing some football. I definitely think that he should consider finding an orthopedic facility that could help him to recover fully.