2nd HALF LAB Flashcards
Explain the “Initial Examination Procedure” of testing nerve roots:
“This is my pinwheel, it’s pointy and prickly and feels something like this, is that ok?”
- C4 on right compared to C4 on left (dermatome above)
- C5 on right compared to C5 on left (dermatome package)
- C6 on right compared to C6 on the left (dermatome below)
Explain the Secondary Examination Procedure with nerve roots:
FIRST
- C4 on the right side compared to C5 on the right side
- C5 of right side compared to C6 of right side
SECOND
- C4 of left side compared to C5 of left side
- C5 of left side compared to C6 of left side
“Can you feel this? AND does it feel like this?
C5 NERVE ROOT
- DISC LEVEL: C4
-
MUSCLE TESTS (2):
- Shoulder Abduction: Deltoid (axillary nerve)
- Forearm Flexion: Biceps (musculocutaneous nerve)
- REFLEX: Biceps
- SENSATION: Lateral Arm
C6 NERVE ROOT
- DISC LEVEL: C5
-
MUSCLE TEST (1):
- Wrist Extension: Extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis, and extensor carpi ulnaris (radial nerve)
- REFLEX: Brachioradialis
- SENSATION: Anterior Lateral Forearm, palm, thumb, and 2nd digit
C7 NERVE ROOT
- DISC LEVEL: C6
-
MUSCLE TESTS (3):
- Elbow Extension: Triceps (Radial Nerve)
- Wrist Flexion: Flexor carpi radialis (Median Nerve), Flexor ulnaris (ulnar nerve)
- Finger Extension: Extensor digitorum communis, extensor indicis profundus, extensor digiti minimi (Radial nerve)
- REFLEX: Triceps
- SENSATION: 3rd digit, middle of palm
C8 NERVE ROOT
- DISC LEVEL: C7
-
MUSCLE TEST (1):
- Finger Flexion: Flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor digitorum profundus, lumbricals (median and ulnar nerves)
- REFLEX: NONE*
- SENSATION: 4th and 5th digits, antero-medial hand and forearm
T1 NERVE ROOT
- DISC LEVEL: T1
-
MUSCLE TESTS (2):
- Finger Abduction: Dorsal Interossei (ulnar nerve)
- Finger Adduction: Palmer Interossei (ulnar nerve)
- REFLEX: NONE**
- SENSATION: Antero-medial arm (distal aspect of arm to proximal aspect of forearm)
L4 NERVE ROOT
- DISC LEVEL: L3
-
MUSCLE TEST (1):
- Foot Dorsiflexion and Inversion: Tibialis Anterior (deep fibular/peroneal nerve)
- REFLEX: Patellar Tendon
- SENSATION: Medial aspect of leg, medial foot, medial aspect of big toe
S2 NERVE ROOT
- DISC LEVEL: S1
- SENSATION: Posterior aspect of thigh over popliteal fossa on to posterior medial calf
L5 NERVE ROOT
- DISC LEVEL: L4
-
MUSCLE TESTS (4):
- Foot Dorsiflexion: Tibialis anterior, Extensor digitorum longus
- Big Toe Dorsiflexion: Extensor hallucis longus (deep fibular/peroneal nerve)
- Toes 2, 3, 4 dorsiflexion: Extensor digitorum longus and brevis (deep fibular/peroneal nerve)
- Hip and Pelvis Abduction: Gluteus medius and minimus (superior gluteal nerve)
- REFLEX: NONE*
- SENSATION: Lateral leg, dorsum of foot, and middle third toes
S1 NERVE ROOT
- DISC LEVEL: L5
-
MUSCLE TESTS (3):
- Foot Plantarflexion: Gastrocnemius and Soleus (Tibial Nerve)
- Foot Plantar Flexion and Eversion: fibular/peroneus longus and brevis (superficial fibular/peroneal nerve)
- Hip Extension: Gluteus Maximus (Inferior gluteal nerve)
- REFLEX: Achilles
- SENSATION: Posterior aspect of the leg, lateral aspect of foot, and lateral aspect of little toe
BONY PALPATION: LUMBAR SPINE
- Lumbar Spinous Processes
- Sacral Tubercles
- Iliac Crest
- PSIS
SOFT TISSUE PALPATION: LUMBAR SPINE
- Paraspinal Muscles (palpate as a unit and individually) superficial layer
- Spinalis
- Longissimus
- Iliocostalis
- Sciatic Nerve
- Gluteus Maximus
- Gluteus Medius
- Hamstrings
- Biceps Femoris
- Semitendinosus
- Semimembranosus
- Anterior Abdominal Muscles
RANGE OF MOTION: LUMBAR SPINE
- FLEXION: 25
- EXTENSION: 30
- LEFT LATERAL BENDING: 25
- RIGHT LATERAL BENDING: 25
- LEFT ROTATION: 30
- RIGHT ROTATION: 30
HOOVER SIGN
- POSITIVE: Lack of counter-pressure to opposite side
- INDICATES: Lack of organic basis for paralysis (Malingering/hysteria). With organic hemiplegia, the patient will still exert downward pressure when attempting to raise paralyzed leg
STRAIGHT LEG RAISER (SLR)
- POSITIVE: Radiating pain and/or dull posterior thigh pain
-
INDICATES: Sciatic radiculopathy or tight hamstrings.
- Positive between 35-70 degrees equals possible discogenic sciatic radiculopathy
- > 70 equals tight hamstrings
GOLDTHWAIT SIGN
- POSITIVE: Localized pain, low back or radiating pain down the leg
-
INDICATES: Lumbo-sacral or sacroiliac pathology
- Pain occuring after the lumbar spinouses move equals possible lumbo-sacral problem
- Pain occuring before the lumbars move equals possible sacroiliac problem
BRAGARD SIGN
- POSITIVE: Radiating pain in posterior thigh
- INDICATES: Sciatic Radiculopathy
BUCKLING SING (CIPRIANO)
- POSITIVE: Pain in the posterior thigh with sudden knee flexion (buckle)
- INDICATES: Sciatic Radiculopathy
BOWSTRING SIGN
- POSITIVE: Pain in the lumbar region or radiculopathy
- INDICATES: Sciatic nerve root compression, helps rule out tight hamstrings
LASEGUE TEST
- POSITIVE: Reproduction of sciatic pain before 60 degrees
- INDICATES: Sciatica
MILGRAM TEST
- POSITIVE: Inability to perform test and/or low back pain
- INDICATES: Weak abdominal muscles or space occupying lesion
VALSALVA MANEUVER
- POSITIVE: Radiating pain from site of lesion (usually recreating the complaint in cervical or lumbar area of the spine)
- INDICATES: Space occupying lesion (e.g. disc pathology)
BECHTEREW TEST
- POSITIVE: Reproduction of radicular pain or inability to perform correctly due to tripod sign
- INDICATES: Sciatic radiculopathy
NERI BOWING TEST (Neri Sign)
- POSITIVE: Pain accompanied by flexion of the knee on the affected side and body rotation away from the affected side
- INDICATES: Positive with a variety of low back pathologies. Hamstring tension on the pelvis may trigger the response
ANTERIOR INNOMINATE aka MAZION PELVIC MANEUVER (ADVANCEMENT SIGN)
- POSITIVE:
The inability to bend at the waist more than 45 degrees, because of either/or
- Radiating pain along the sciatic nerve, either unilateral or bilateral
- Low back pain (lumbar or pelvic regions)
-
INDICATES:
- Sciatic neuralgia or radiculopathy, etc., possibly due to lumbar disc pathology
- Anterior (rotational) displacement of the ilium relative to the sacrum
LEWIN STANDING TEST
- POSITIVE:
Radiating pain down the leg causing flexion of the patient’s knee or knees
- INDICATES:
Gluteal, lumbosacral or sacroiliac pathologies
HEEL WALK
- POSITIVE:
Inability to perform the test
- INDICATES:
L4-L5 disc lesion (L5 nerve root)
TOE WALK
- POSITIVE:
Inability to perform test
- INDICATES:
L5-S1 disc lesion (S1 nerve root)