A case of joint pain eg. Knee, Shoulder, Elbow, Hip etc can be included in your USMLE step 2 CS exam. Rather than remembering and practicing all main joint pain cases separately, its better to have a general approach towards all caseas of joint pain.
Important points in HPI ( history of presenting illness) of any joint pain
Onset
Progression
Pain Questions (LIQORAAA)
fever
Nausea, Vomiting
Trauma
Morning Stifness (any inflammatory arthirits)
Travel (lyme disease)
Tick bites (lyme, RMSF)
Rash (SLE, Psoriatic Arthritis etc)
Pain, swelling in any other joint
Recent febrile illness
Eye Symptoms (Reiters)
Bowel Porblems (IBD)
Bladder Problems (Reiters)
Examination of Joint
Inspection:
Look for swelling, redness, deformity . Compare with other side
Palpation:
Feel for tmeperature (warmth), deformity, swelling, tenderness. Compare with other side
Range of Motion:
Check the ROM of both normal and affected side.
Auscultation:
Can be done for bruits, but not very important.
Other Joints:
Just have a look at other major joint of body like knees, hands, elbows etc
Skin:
Have a quick view at the skin for any rashes, nodules
