Chapter 48: Disorders of Musculoskeletal Function: Trauma, Infection, Neoplasms

The content examines acute traumatic injuries to soft tissue and skeletal structures, with particular emphasis on how patient age influences both injury presentation and therapeutic outcomes. Rotator cuff pathology serves as a key case study, demonstrating how the same anatomical injury manifests differently across age groups due to variations in tissue healing capacity, functional demands, and degenerative baseline conditions. The chapter provides comprehensive guidance on managing initial traumatic episodes, exemplified through patellar dislocation protocols that emphasize evidence-based intervention timing and technique selection. Broader principles of skeletal trauma management are integrated throughout, covering fracture classification systems, biomechanical considerations during healing, and complications associated with immobilization and rehabilitation. Beyond acute injury, the chapter explores chronic degenerative pathologies, particularly osteoarthritis, by establishing the relationship between mechanical joint stress, inflammatory cascades, and progressive cartilage degradation. Assessment methodologies for identifying osteoarthritis risk factors and monitoring disease progression are detailed, enabling clinicians to stratify patient populations and tailor preventive or disease-modifying interventions accordingly. The chapter synthesizes these topics within a framework that recognizes musculoskeletal disorders as dynamic processes rather than static conditions, highlighting how initial injury, inflammatory response, tissue remodeling, and functional adaptation interact across the disease timeline. Clinical decision-making threads throughout, connecting pathophysiological understanding to practical management algorithms that balance immediate symptom control with long-term functional preservation.