7. Back pain & sciatica

Question 1

Degenerative spondylolisthesis

Answer 1

Commoner in women

L4/5 commonest level

back pain and leg pain

Question 2

Spinal Stenosis Management

Answer 2

Analgesia

Epidural steroid injection

Surgical decompression

Question 3

Spinal Stenosis

Answer 3

pins and needles down one or both legs when they walk or stand

differential diagnosis is Vascular Claudication

Question 4

Cauda Equina Syndrome

Answer 4

Bilateral buttock and leg pain

Bowel dysfunction

Question 5

Management of Sciatica

Answer 5

Analgesia

steroid injection

Question 6

Sciatica: Myotomes - L5 weakness

Answer 6

Extensor digitorum longus

Question 7

Sciatica: Myotomes - L5 weakness

Answer 7

Extensor hallucis longus

Question 8

Sciatica: Myotomes - S1 weakness

Answer 8

Gastrocnemius – plantar flexion against resistance

Question 9

Disc herniation

Answer 9

Younger patients

history of injury

Radicular leg pain

Question 10

Sciatica

Answer 10

Lower motor neurone lesion

affecting spinal nerve in lumbar spine