B8-9. Cervical Trauma Flashcards
What are the most frequent cervical injuries in athletes?
- acute sprains and strains
- contusions
Pain (sometimes burning and stiffness are often the main complaints with what cervical injury?
Acute cervical strain
A jammed-neck sensation and localized (sometimes sharp) pain are often the pain complaints with what cervical injury?
Acute cervical sprain
What is the symptom progression of a cervical sprain/strain?
- Immediate pain at the time of injury that subsides after a few minutes
- pain, swelling and tenderness with restricted motion that peaks several hours later or following day
- referred pain into occipital area
What finding is more common with traumatic sprains/strains, Torticollis or decreased ROM?
Decreased ROM
What should be done is there is evidence of ligamentous instability in the cervical spine following injury?
Rigid collar
When should flexion-extension x-rays be taken of the spine following a cervical sprain/strain injury if ligamentous injuries are suspected?
May need to wait up to 2-3 weeks for muscle spams and splinting to resolve. During the acute phase, the splinting and spasms can cause a temporary loss of cervical lordosis
What are the three common mechanisms of macro trauma to the cervical spine?
- flexion/extension injury
- compressive injury to top of head
- lateral flexion injury
What are the exam findings for a cervical sprain?
- observation is unremarkable with some swelling and bruising
- AROM is painful
- neck muscle test are painless (except in set phase)
- PROM is painful before end range
- tender palpation over supraspinous ligament
Horizontal movement of one vertebral body on the next should not exceed ____.
3.5 mm
What is the upper limit of normal C1-C2 translation in an adult?
2.5 mm
What is the upper limit of normal C1-C2 translation in a child?
4.5 mm
What are the exam findings for a cervical strain?
- observation is unremarkable with some swelling and bruising
- AROM is painful in motions that require muscle to contract
- neck muscle tests are painful and weak
- PROM painful only at end range when muscle is stretched
- tender palpation over muscle
What are the treatment goals for sprain/strain injuries to the cervical spine?
- control pain and inflammation in acute phase (cryogenic or electrotherapy, hot/cold)
- support and prevent further injury (activity restriction, k-tape, etc.)
- prevent adhesions and atrophy and erosion of motor control pathway (CMT, isometrics, home ROM)
- restore proper muscle balance (PIR, CRAC)
What are the late effects of sprain?
Periarticular fibrosis
What are the late effects of strain?
Myofibrosis, possibly trigger point
What is the most common cause of serious spinal injury?
Cervical acceleration-deceleration syndrome
Over 10% of population has residuals from CAD
Approximately 80% of MVAs occur at less than what speed?
25 mph
IN a rear end collision, at 60 msec, what happens to the cervical spine?
The S curve, where there is a bending moment in extension of the lower cervicals and bending moment in flexion of the upper cervicals
C0-C2 often develop restrictions
C4-C6 often become hypermobile
Why do head rests not prevent the S-curve?
Head contact with the head piece occurs at 70-100 msec while the S curve occurs at 60 msec
Following the S-curve, what happens to the cervical spine?
Hyperextension
How can a head rest help decrease injury?
If properly aligned with the EOP, it can decreased the amount of hyper extension
What anterior neck structure are at risk in cervical extension injuries?
- strains SCM
- strains anterior and middle scalenes
- strains longus colli and capitus
- sprains ALL
- tear anterior disc fibers
- traction injuries to vertebral artery and sympathetic plexus
What posterior neck structure are at risk in cervical extension injuries?
- fascia
- alar ligaments
Upper cervical injury can result in injured nociceptors and mechanoreceptors which can cause:
- balance disorders
- dizziness
- cognitive disorders (mild TBI)
How can whiplash cause TMJ?
Dropping of mandible during hyperextension can strain the anterior capsule of the TMJ
How can a whiplash injury cause injury dysphagia?
The tensile load with hyperextension may tear smooth muscle of the esophagus causing dysphagia although this is not the main cause of dysphagia in whiplash cases. Most are psychological
If the sympathetic chain is injured through traction in a whiplash injury, what can result?
Horner’s syndrome
What kind of instability results from weak, injured or inhibited deep neck flexors?
Functional instability
Sprains of the ALL can lead to what kind of instability in the cervical spine?
Structural instability