Assessment of Thoracic and Lumbar spine Flashcards
What are you inspecting during assessment of the T/L spine?
1) Gait
2) Posture
3) Kyphosis/Lordosis (thoracic/lumbar)
4) Skin (lesions, trauma)
What are you palpating during assessment of the T/L spine?
1) TART findings
2) Spinal column
3) Paraspinal muscles
4) Back muscles
What can be used during assessment of the T/L spine to identify pain points and areas of fracture?
Percussion
What is useful to use in comprehensive exam if components felt to be related to a specific back complaint?
Auscultation
Patients (usually under age 10) with abnormal lateral curvature of the spine are diagnosed with?
Scoliosis
What is by far the most common form of scoliosis that affects as many as 4 out of 100 children between the ages of 10 and 18?
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is diagnosed with what degree angle?
Greater than 10
What condition encompasses scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis, and spondylothesis, each of which can lead to imbalance of the structural support of the spinal column?
Adult spinal deformity
When is surgery considered as a scoliosis treatment?
When the angle of curvature is greater than 39-50 degrees
What are some red flag findings associated with Cauda Equina Syndrome?
1) Progressive motor or sensory deficits
2) Saddle anesthesia
3) Bilateral sciatica or leg weakness
4) Difficulty urinating including retention
5) Fecal incontinence
What refers to pain or discomfort associated with the sciatic nerve?
Sciatica
What can indicate concern for disc herniation or radicular pain symptoms?
Pain radiating down the leg at 30 to 60 degrees
What structure do you palpate to evaluate for step off?
Spinous process
What are painful cramps that are not caused by peripheral artery disease but rather by spinal, neurological, orthopedic disorders, such as spinal stenosis, diabetic neuropathy, or arthritis?
Pseudoclaudication
What is the sensitivity for diagnosing compression fractures at age 50 or older?
84%
