Bone-oma's

I find it difficult to remember the differences between osteoblastoma, osteoid osteoma, chondrosarcoma, and osteosarcoma. So here's how I remember:

• If it begins OSTEO and ends OMA then it happens at a young age (generally <40 years)
• If it begins CHONDRO then it's over 40's (so I think of John-drosarcoma and John Lennon being shot aged 40)

 And here are the amusing ways to remember which one is which:

Carpal Tunnel

It's been a while since the last Really Easy Way to Remember something - so here's a nice simple one to get back into it:

Carpal Tunnel tests:

• Tinel's sign = Tinel's Tapping sign. Tap on the dorsal aspect of wrist.
• Phalen's test = Phalen's ph-lexion test. Wrist in maximal flexion.

Remember they're only positive if the pins and needles sensation is elicited distally (e.g. not +ve if there is pain when you tap on the wrist).

The Surgical Sieve

The consultant surgeon turns to you and barks "What are the causes of ____ " - all eyes are now on you to remember your surgical sieve and come up with the common as well as the wierd and wonderful. But wait, what was the mneumonic again?... On old mount olympus... no wrong one.... in a surgeons gown most... no don't think it was that one... was it something about vitamins?

Here's a little mneumonic which actually has something to do with surgical seive-ing. Just think of a sieve made of tin - a Tin Civ:

So that gets the most common causes to the top of your mind (trauma, infection, neoplasm), instead of coming up with a congenital disorder as your first answer.