Orthopaedics
Browse 164 topics in orthopaedics, including presentations, diagnoses, procedures, tools, and exam links.
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Use the filters below to move between emergency clusters, core pathways, exam topics, procedures, and the most relevant clinical atlas pages.
Accessory Navicular Syndrome
The hallmark is a painful, palpable prominence on the medial arch. Biomechanically, the syndrome is significant because the TPT's insertion is displaced medially, reducing its lever arm for inversion and arch support....
Acetabular Fracture
Acetabular fractures: classification, imaging, surgical indications, and management of hip socket fractures in high-energy trauma.
Achilles Tendon Rupture
An Achilles tendon rupture is a complete disruption of the calcaneal tendon, the strongest and largest tendon in the human body. It most commonly occurs in the "watershed zone" (2–6 cm proximal to the calcaneal...
Achondroplasia
While patients have normal intelligence and a near-normal life expectancy, the condition is associated with significant neurological and orthopaedic complications. The most critical period is infancy, where foramen...
ACL Injury
An Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury is a complete or partial disruption of the primary intra-articular stabilizer of the knee. The ACL's primary role is to resist anterior translation of the tibia relative to...
Acromioclavicular Joint Injury
Acromioclavicular joint injuries: mechanism, Rockwood classification, diagnosis, and evidence-based management from conservative treatment to surgical reconstruction.
Acute Compartment Syndrome
The hallmark clinical feature is pain out of proportion to the clinical findings , with pain on passive stretch of compartment muscles being the most reliable early sign. Pulselessness and paralysis are late...
Acute Osteomyelitis (Paediatric)
Acute Haematogenous Osteomyelitis (AHO) is a bacterial infection of the bone marrow, primarily affecting the rapidly growing metaphyses of long bones in children. It represents one of the most important paediatric...
Ankle Arthritis (Adult)
Ankle arthritis represents a fundamentally different pathological entity from hip or knee osteoarthritis. While hip and ... FRCS (Tr&Orth) exam preparation.
Ankle Sprain
The acute lateral ankle sprain is the single most common musculoskeletal injury in the active population, accounting for approximately 2 million injuries annually in the United States alone. It involves stretching or...
Ankylosing Spondylitis
AS is strongly associated with HLA-B27 positivity (present in 85-95% of patients), though only 1-5% of HLA-B27-positive individuals develop the disease, indicating additional genetic and environmental factors are...
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Rupture
The rupture is a catastrophic event for the knee joint, often referred to as the "beginning of the end" for the native joint, as it sets off a cascade of instability, meniscal tears, and eventual post-traumatic...
Avascular Necrosis of the Hip - Adult
Avascular necrosis (AVN), also termed osteonecrosis, is the ischaemic death of bone tissue in the femoral head due to in... FRCS (Tr&Orth), FRACS (Orth) exam pr
Baker's Cyst (Popliteal Cyst)
A Baker's cyst (popliteal cyst) is a fluid-filled synovial cyst that forms in the popliteal fossa, typically as a distension of the gastrocnemius-semimembranosus bursa. It is almost always secondary to intra-articular...
Bennett's Fracture
The fracture is characterized by a two-part fracture pattern : a small volar-ulnar fragment remains attached to the trapezium via the strong anterior oblique ligament (volar beak ligament), while the main metacarpal...
Both Bone Forearm Fracture (Paediatric)
Both bone forearm fractures (BBFF) represent one of the most common fracture patterns in the paediatric population, acco... FRCS Orth exam preparation.
Boxer's Fracture (5th Metacarpal Neck Fracture) (Adult)
A Boxer's Fracture is a fracture through the neck of the 5th metacarpal bone, representing the most common metacarpal fr... MRCS exam preparation.
Calcaneus Fracture
Calcaneus fractures represent the most common tarsal bone injury, accounting for approximately 60% of all tarsal fractur... FRCS, FRACS exam preparation.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Diagnosis is primarily clinical, supported by provocative maneuvers including Phalen's test and Durkan's carpal compression test . Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) provide objective severity grading and guide management...
Cauda Equina Syndrome (Adult)
Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) is a rare but potentially catastrophic neurosurgical emergency caused by compression of the lumbosacral nerve roots below the level of the conus medullaris (typically L1/L2 vertebral...
Cavovarus Foot
The cavovarus foot is a complex three-dimensional deformity characterized by a pathologically elevated longitudinal arch (cavus), hindfoot varus angulation, and forefoot adduction. Unlike the more common and often...
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy (CP) is defined as a group of permanent disorders of movement and posture, attributed to non-progressive ... MRCPCH exam preparation.
Cervical Radiculopathy (Adult)
Cervical radiculopathy is a neurological condition characterized by compression or inflammation of a cervical nerve root, resulting in radicular pain, sensory disturbance, and/or motor weakness in a dermatomal and...
Charcot Neuroarthropathy
The hallmark of acute Charcot is a red, hot, swollen foot in a patient with peripheral neuropathy, often triggered by minor trauma that goes unnoticed due to sensory loss. This acute inflammatory phase is...
Charcot Neuroarthropathy (Charcot Foot)
Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN), commonly referred to as Charcot foot, is a progressive destructive arthropathy affecting ... MRCP Part 2 exam preparation.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
CMT is characterised by Progressive Distal Muscle Weakness and Atrophy , Sensory Loss , Foot Deformities (Particularly Pes Cavus and Hammer Toes) , and Reduced or Absent Deep Tendon Reflexes . The hallmark clinical...
Chondromalacia Patellae (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome)
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common causes of anterior knee pain, particularly affecting adole... FRCS Orthopaedics exam preparation.
Chondrosarcoma (Adult)
Chondrosarcoma is a malignant bone tumour producing cartilaginous matrix and represents the second most common primary bone malignancy after osteosarcoma, accounting for approximately 20% of primary bone malignancies....
Chopart Injury
The Chopart Joint (Midtarsal Joint, Transverse Tarsal Joint) is a complex articulation consisting of the Talonavicular (TN) and Calcaneocuboid (CC) joints. This S-shaped joint complex is critical for the foot's...
Chronic Ankle Instability
The condition has significant implications for quality of life, athletic performance, and long-term joint health, with CAI patients demonstrating a 3-4 fold increased risk of developing ankle osteoarthritis by middle...
Clavicle Fracture
The landmark Canadian Orthopaedic Trauma Society (COTS) Trial in 2007 fundamentally changed practice by demonstrating that plate fixation of completely displaced midshaft clavicle fractures reduces non-union rates...
Clubfoot (Talipes Equinovarus)
Clubfoot, or congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), represents one of the most common congenital musculoskeletal deformities, affecting approximately 1-2 per 1,000 live births worldwide. The deformity comprises four...
Collateral Ligament Injuries (MCL & LCL)
Pellegrini-Stieda: Calcification at the proximal origin of the MCL seen on X-ray weeks/months after injury. A sign o... FRCS exam preparation.
Crush Injury & Crush Syndrome
Crush injury is compressive trauma to body parts causing direct tissue damage through mechanical disruption and ischemia... MRCP, EDIC exam preparation.
Crystal Arthropathies (Gout & CPPD)
Crystal arthropathies represent a group of inflammatory joint diseases caused by the deposition of crystals within synovial fluid and periarticular tissues. The two principal conditions in this category are gout...
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
The ulnar nerve traverses five recognized sites of potential compression (Proximal to Distal):... FRCS exam preparation.
Cuboid Fracture
The cuboid bone is the keystone of the lateral column of the foot, articulating proximally with the calcaneus and distally with the fourth and fifth metatarsals. Cuboid fractures are uncommon injuries, accounting for...
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
The condition is characterized by pain and tenderness over the radial styloid, aggravated by thumb and wrist movements. It classically affects new mothers (hence "Mother's Thumb" or "Baby Wrist") due to repetitive...
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (Child)
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) represents a spectrum of abnormalities affecting the developing hip joint, ranging from mild acetabular dysplasia through subluxation to complete dislocation of the femoral...
Diabetic Foot Ulcer
A Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) is a full-thickness wound below the ankle in a patient with diabetes mellitus, arising from the complex interaction of peripheral neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, and biomechanical...
Discitis & Vertebral Osteomyelitis
Discitis (also termed spondylodiscitis or vertebral osteomyelitis) represents an infection of the intervertebral disc space and adjacent vertebral bodies. This condition constitutes a diagnostic and therapeutic...
Distal Femoral Fractures
Distal femoral fractures involve the distal metaphyseal and epiphyseal regions of the femur, typically within 15cm of th... FRCS Trauma & Orthopaedics exam prep
Distal Radius and Wrist Fractures (Adult)
Distal radius fractures (DRF) are the most common fractures in adults, accounting for approximately 18% of all fractures... MRCS, FRCS (Tr & Orth), FRACS exam p
Distal Radius Fracture
Exam Detail: Key Revision Focus: Radiographic parameters (11mm height, 22° inclination, 11° volar tilt), Eponyms (Colles vs Smith vs Barton), Criteria for instability (Lafontaine), and EPL rupture mechanism....
DRUJ Injury & TFCC Tear
The Distal Radioulnar Joint (DRUJ) is the critical pivot point for forearm rotation, contributing approximately 150° of combined pronation-supination arc. Stability is provided by the Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex...
Dupuytren's Contracture
Dupuytren's Disease is a benign, progressive fibroproliferative disorder of the palmar fascia characterized by pathologi... FRCS Orth, FRACS Orth exam preparati
Ewing's Sarcoma
Histologically, Ewing's sarcoma belongs to the Ewing sarcoma family of tumours (ESFT) , characterized as a "small round blue cell tumour" with a pathognomonic molecular signature: the EWSR1-FLI1 fusion gene resulting...
Extensor Tendon Injuries
The extensor mechanism differs fundamentally from the flexor system: extensors form an interconnected aponeurotic network rather than discrete tendons in sheaths, making them more vulnerable to adhesion but also...
Extensor Tendonitis of the Foot
This condition manifests as pain and swelling over the dorsum (top) of the foot and ankle, exacerbated by activities involving repetitive ankle dorsiflexion—running (especially uphill), prolonged walking, dancing, or...
Extradural Haemorrhage (Epidural Haematoma)
Extradural Haemorrhage (EDH), also known as epidural haematoma, is a neurosurgical emergency characterised by arterial b... MRCP, FRCS Neurosurgery exam prepara
Fat Embolism Syndrome
Key Facts Timing : 12-72 hours after injury (peak 24-48 hours; rarely less than 12 hours or >1 week) Classic triad : Respiratory insufficiency (75-95%) + neurological dysfunction (60-80%) + petechial rash (20-50%)...
Femoral Shaft Fractures
Modern management is universally surgical, with intramedullary nailing (IMN) being the gold standard treatment, achieving union rates exceeding 95%. Early definitive fixation (within 24 hours) in physiologically...
Flexor Hallucis Longus (FHL) Tendonitis
The FHL is unique anatomically as it passes through a fibro-osseous tunnel at the posterior ankle, curves around the sustentaculum tali, and crosses the Flexor Digitorum Longus (FDL) at the Knot of Henry . These...
Flexor Tendon Injuries
Modern management has evolved dramatically from the nihilistic "benign neglect" approach of the 1950s to sophisticated primary repair techniques. The cornerstone of contemporary surgical treatment involves 4-strand or...
Freiberg Infraction
Key Facts The Victim : The classic patient is a 14-year-old female athlete (dancer, gymnast, or runner) presenting with insidious onset forefoot pain. The Site : Second metatarsal head in 68% of cases, third...
Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
The hallmark pathological feature is capsular contracture with loss of the axillary recess , leading to global restriction of shoulder movement following a characteristic capsular pattern (External Rotation Abduction...
Galeazzi Fracture-Dislocation
A Galeazzi fracture-dislocation is a fracture of the distal third of the radius (typically within 7.5 cm of the radiocar... FRCS Orth, FRACS Orth exam preparati
Gamekeeper's Thumb (UCL Injury)
Gamekeeper's thumb refers to insufficiency of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the thumb metacarpophalangeal (MCP)... MRCS exam preparation.
Ganglion Cyst
While the diagnosis is predominantly clinical, ganglion cysts pose both cosmetic and functional concerns for patients. The natural history is remarkably benign: approximately 50% resolve spontaneously , particularly...
Ganglion Cyst (Foot)
A ganglion cyst is the most common benign soft tissue mass of the foot and ankle, accounting for approximately 18-22% of all foot soft tissue tumors. It is a cystic structure filled with mucinous, gelatinous fluid...
Glomus Tumor (Subungual)
A Glomus Tumor is a rare, benign, but exquisitely painful vascular neoplasm arising from the glomus body (Sucquet-Hoyer canal). The glomus body is a specialized arteriovenous anastomosis involved in thermoregulation,...
Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)
Medial Epicondylitis ("Golfer's Elbow") is a degenerative overuse tendinopathy affecting the Common Flexor Origin (CFO) at the medial epicondyle of the humerus. Despite its colloquial name, over 90% of cases are...
Gout and Crystal Arthropathies
Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis worldwide, affecting approximately 2.5% of adults in developed countries. It is a crystal deposition disease caused by the precipitation of Monosodium Urate (MSU)...
Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS)
GTPS affects approximately 1.8-3.3 per 1000 patients annually, with a cumulative prevalence of 10-25% in the general adult population. The condition demonstrates a marked female predominance (female:male ratio of 4:1)...
Greenstick Fracture in Children
A greenstick fracture is an incomplete fracture of long bones unique to the paediatric skeleton, characterized by cortical breach on the tension (convex) side while the compression (concave) side remains intact. The...
Hallux Fracture
Fractures of the hallux (great toe) are common foot injuries resulting from direct trauma (dropping heavy objects), stubbing mechanisms (axial load), or hyperextension injuries. Unlike lesser toes, the hallux plays a...
Hallux Rigidus
The pathognomonic feature is the formation of large dorsal osteophytes (bone spurs) on the metatarsal head that create a mechanical block to dorsiflexion, causing impingement pain during the terminal stance phase of...
Hallux Valgus (Bunion)
Exam Detail: Key Revision Focus: Radiographic angles (HVA, IMA, DMAA). Joint Congruency vs Incongruency. Algorithm for Osteotomy Selection (Chevron vs Scarf vs Lapidus vs Akin). Complications (AVN, Hallux Varus,...
Hand Infections
Unlike infections elsewhere in the body, hand infections carry an exceptionally high risk of permanent disability if not recognized and treated urgently. The tendon nutrition depends on synovial fluid circulation and...
High Ankle Sprain
A High Ankle Sprain (syndesmotic injury) refers to injury of the syndesmosis —the fibrous complex of ligaments that binds the distal tibia and fibula together, maintaining the integrity of the ankle mortise. Unlike...
Hip Fracture (Neck of Femur)
What is it? Hip fractures are fractures of the proximal femur, classified as intracapsular (within the hip joint capsule, risk of avascular necrosis) or extracapsular (trochanteric/subtrochanteric, risk of mechanical...
Human & Animal Bites
Mammalian bite wounds present a significant infectious disease challenge due to polymicrobial oral flora, with infection rates varying from 5% (dog bites) to 50% (cat bites). The unique anatomy of bite...
Humeral Shaft Fracture
The Sarmiento functional bracing protocol , introduced in the 1970s, revolutionized treatment by demonstrating that rigid immobilization is unnecessary and that controlled fracture motion promotes healing through...
Hypovolemic Shock (Adult)
Hypovolemic shock is a life-threatening circulatory failure state characterised by inadequate intravascular volume to ma... MRCP, FRCEM exam preparation.
Ingrown Toenail
The condition affects predominantly the great toe (hallux), with the lateral nail edge involved in approximately 85% of cases. Without appropriate treatment, the natural history progresses through stages of increasing...
Jersey Finger
This injury is a classic sports-related trauma seen predominantly in contact sports (Rugby, American Football, Basketball, Judo) caused by forced hyperextension of the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) while the...
Joint Dislocation in Adults
A joint dislocation occurs when the articular surfaces of a joint lose complete contact with one another, resulting in j... FRCS (Tr&Orth) exam preparation.
Kienböck's Disease (Adult)
Kienböck's disease is avascular necrosis (AVN) of the lunate bone, one of the eight carpal bones in the wrist. Fir... FRCS(Tr&Orth), FRACS(Orth) exam prep
Knee Ligament and Meniscal Injuries (Adult)
Knee ligament and meniscal injuries represent some of the most common musculoskeletal injuries presenting to emergency departments and orthopaedic clinics worldwide. The knee joint is a modified hinge joint that...
Koehler Disease
Koehler Disease (often spelled Kohler's Disease) is a rare, self-limiting avascular necrosis (osteochondrosis) of the ta... FRCS (Orth) exam preparation.