Costochondritis Developed for OUCOM CORE By: Sheri Hull, D.O. Edited by Katrina Rakowsky, D.O. and the CORE Osteopathic Principles and Practices Committee Series C – Session #7 CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents ©2006 Costochondritis Definition • Inflammation of the junction of the upper ribs and the costal cartilage • Localized chest pain aggravated by coughing, sneezing or deep breathing • aka: Anterior Chest Wall Syndrome CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents ©2006 Causes of Costochondritis – Causes of costochondritis are not known and may involve several factors. Possible causes include heredity (genetic predisposition), viruses, and trauma (injury). – Costochondritis can be an independent condition by itself or sometimes be a feature of a more widespread disorder. – Examples of illnesses that can feature costochondritis include fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, i.e. ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents ©2006 Anatomy CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents Netter, F. Atlas of Human Anatomy. 2nd Edition. 1997. East Hanover: Novartis ©2006 Anatomy CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents Netter, F. Atlas of Human Anatomy. 2nd Edition. 1997. East Hanover: Novartis ©2006 Symptoms Chest Pain • Very common in children and adults • Sharp chest pain with/without radiation to back • 4th, 5th, 6th ribs most common • Reproducible by palpating the costochondral joint CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents ©2006 Differential Diagnosis • Cardiac Conditions • Pulmonary Conditions • GI Conditions • Tietze Syndrome - An inflammation of the costochondral cartilages of the upper front of the chest. Blood testing (Sedimentation Rate or C-Reactive Protein Rate) can show signs of inflammation in patients with Tietze syndrome, whereas patients with costochondritis alone typically have normal tests for inflammation. CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents ©2006 Costochondritis Diagnosis • Motion may be restricted – may be necessary to correct rib motion restrictions to make accurate diagnosis • Based on painful palpation of the costochondral joint(s) • Also dependent on exclusion of other causes (cardiac, infectious, etc.) CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents ©2006 Treatment -Costochondritis Remember these people are in pain! - Anti-inflammatory medication and moist heat may also offer relief LAR Rib Release: For pain medial to the upper shoulder blade or costochondritis of the upper ribs: • Contact rib around its circumference with thumbs in the axilla and bring to a balance • After release, rib should return to a normal physiologic position and start moving with respiration. CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents ©2006 Ligamentous Articular Release – Costochondritis 2nd and 3rd Ribs Lateral Recumbent CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents Speece, C., et. al. Ligamentous Articular Strain: Osteopathic Manipulative Techniques for the Body. 2001. Seattle:Eastland Press. ©2006 Treatment: Alternating Direct Rib Release The physician presses upward with the bottom hand while releasing pressure from the top hand. The physician holds this position for several seconds, after which the bottom hand releases pressure and the top hand exerts downward pressure. CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents Nicholas: Atlas of Osteopathic Techniques ©2006 Treatment Muscle Energy – Inhalation Rib Dysfunction During exhalation the physician’s right hand exaggerates the exhalation motion of the dysfunctional rib. The patient inhales again (black arrow) as the physician’s right hand resists (white arrow) the inhalation motion of the dysfunctional rib. CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents Nicholas: Atlas of Osteopathic Techniques ©2006 Treatment Muscle Energy – Inhalation Rib Dysfunction The patient exhales, and the physician exaggerates the exhalation motion (white arrow) of the dysfunctional rib. Nicholas: Atlas of Osteopathic Techniques CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents ©2006 Treatment HVLA Left 7th Rib Posterior The physician slightly rolls the patient toward the physician by gently pulling the left posterior shoulder girdle forward. The physician places the thenar eminence of the right hand posterior to the angle of the dysfunctional rib. The patient is rolled back over the physician’s hand, and the surface created by the patient’s crossed arms rests against the physician’s chest or abdomen. Nicholas: Atlas of Osteopathic Techniques CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents ©2006 Treatment HVLA Pressure is directed through the patient’s chest wall, localizing at the thenar eminence. The patient inhales and exhales, and at end exhalation a thrust impulse (white arrows) is delivered through the patient’s chest wall slightly cephalad to the thenar eminence. Nicholas: Atlas of Osteopathic Techniques CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents ©2006 References • Downing, CH. Osteopathic Principles in Disease. 1935. AAO. • DiGiovanna, E. & Schiowitz, S. An Osteopathic Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment. 1997. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins. • Kimberly, PE. Outline of Osteopathic Manipulative Procedures: The Kimberly Manual, Millennium Edition. 2000. Marceline: AOA. • Foundations for Osteopathic Medicine. 1997. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins. •Nicholas, AS. Atlas of Osteopathic Techniques. 2008 Lippincot CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents ©2006 References - continued • Netter, F. Atlas of Human Anatomy. 2nd Edition. 1997. East Hanover: Novartis. • Owens, C. An Endocrine Interpretation of Chapman’s Reflexes. 1937. AAO. • Speece, C., et. al. Ligamentous Articular Strain: Osteopathic Manipulative Techniques for the Body. 2001. Seattle: Eastland Press. P.98 • http://www.emedicinehealth.com/costochondritis/article_em.htm • www.steadyhealth.com CORE OMM Curriculum for Students, Interns, & Residents ©2006
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