Joint/Limb Pain

  • Perform a patient-centred interview and focused physical exam for a patient presenting with joint pain,
  • Differentiate between joint and soft tissue pathology based on history and physical exam
  • Describe the differences between inflammatory arthritis, crystal arthropathies and osteoarthritis based on history, physical exam, radiographic and laboratory findings and know when referral is indicated for these conditions
  • Propose a differential diagnosis and initial management plan for an acute, red joint

Core Resources

Approach to Limb Injury

Karram JJ, Keegan DA.  <em>Approach to Limb Injury. </em> Canadian Family Medicine Clinical Card.  2015.  Available at: https://sites.google.com/site/sharcfm/

Joint Pain 1- Arthritis

Kendal JK, Keegan DA.  <em>Joint Pain 1: Arthritis.  Canadian Family Medicine Clinical Card. </em> 2014.  Available at: https://sites.google.com/site/sharcfm/

Joint Pain 2 - Upper Limb

Kendal JK, Karram JJ, Keegan DA.  <em>Joint Pain 2: Upper Limb.  Canadian Family Medicine Clinical Card. </em> 2014.  Available at: https://sites.google.com/site/sharcfm/

Joint Pain 3 - Lower Limb

Karram JJ, Kendal JK, Keegan DA. <em> Joint Pain 3: Lower Limb.  Canadian Family Medicine Clinical Card.  </em>2015.  Available at: https://sites.google.com/site/sharcfm/

OA Tool

Arthritis Alliance of Canada, the Centre for Effective Practice and the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Osteoarthritis Tool. June 2017.

Quality Standard Placemat for Osteoarthritis

Ontario Health. Quality Standard Placemat for Osteoarthritis. October 2020. Available at: https://quorum.hqontario.ca/en/Home/Posts/Chronic-Pain-Osteoarthritis-and-Low-Back-Pain-Quality-Standards-Tools-for-Implementation

Supplemental Resources

Differential Diagnosis of Polyarticular Arthritis

Pujalte G, Albano-Aluquin S. Differential diagnosis of polyarticular arthritis. Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(1):35-41.