Back and Neck Disorders Flashcards
historical red flags for neck&back exams
- Age < 20 or >50
- Duration > 1 month
- Pain unresponsive to therapy
- Unexplained wt loss, fever
- Nocturnal pain or pain at rest
- Neuro sx - Saddle anesthesia, bowel/bladder incontinence/urine retention
- Long-term steroid therapy
- H/o cancer
- H/o IVDU, addiction or immunosupp
- Active infection elsewhere or (+) HIV
Delayed pain/stiffness
consider what ddx?
Mechanical disorder (muscle strain)
Low back pain radiating down buttock, below the knee
consider what ddx?
Nerve root compression
Back pain at night, unrelieved by rest/supine
consider what ddx?
Malignancy, cauda equina tumor, compression fx
Pain worse with rest, improved with activity
consider what ddx?
Ankylosing spondylitis
Pain worse with activity, improved with rest
consider what ddx?
Degenerative diseases
Writhing pain that is unrelenting
consider what ddx?
Ureteral calculi or dissecting AAA
Pain and fever with hx of IV drug use, immunocompromised, retained hardware or recent back surgery
consider what dxx?
Osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, discitis
Significant or rapidly evolving neuro deficits
consider what ddX?
Cauda equina syndrome, epidural abscess, massive disk herniation
Pain with neurogenic claudication (intermittent leg pain)
consider what ddx?
Lumbar spinal stenosis
ROM for neck and back exam?
- Flexion: Pain → nerve root irritation from disc herniation
- Extension: spinal stenosis or spondylolisthesis
- Lateral bending: contralateral side → muscle spasm; ipsilateral → facet joint irritation, nerve root impingement, disk herniation
- Rotation: muscle spasm, facet joint irritation
nerve roots of UE?
C5-C8
Nerve roots of LE?
L4, L5, S1
- Shoulder abduction, elbow flexion
- Bicep
- Lateral ½ upper arm
which nerve root?
C5
- Elbow flexion, wrist extension
- Brachioradialis
- Lateral ½ lower arm
which nerve root?
C6
C7 nerve root controls what motor, reflex, and sensory?
- Elbow extension, wrist flexion, finger extension
- Tricep
- Middle finger🖕
C8 controls what motor, reflex, and sensory?
- Finger abduction, adduction and flexion
- None
- Medial aspect of lower arm
- Foot dorsiflexion
- Patellar
- Medial foot
which nerve root?
L4
L5 controls what motor, reflex, and sensory?
- Big toe extension
- None
- Midline ventral foot
- Foot eversion
- Achilles
- Lateral aspect of foot
which nerve root?
S1
- Anal sphincter tone
- Bulbocavernosus
- Perianal area
which nerve root?
S2-S4
what is the straight leg raise?
indications?
- Passively flex hip w/ knee extended while supine
- (+) = worsening radicular pain on affected side (not just low back or hamstring pain)
- lumbar nerve root compression/irritation (herniated disc)
- if seated → pt will lean back when hip flexed with knee extended = (+) test
what is the crossed straight leg raise?
indication?
- Also the contralateral SLR
- Performed as in SLR testing, however unaffected leg is passively elevated
- (+) = radicular pain in affected leg when unaffected leg is elevated
- lumbar nerve root compression/irritation (herniated disc)
what is the trendelenburg test?
indication?
- assesses hip abductor (gluteus medius) strength
- stand on one leg; observe level of the pelvis
- (+) = pelvis drops below neutral on opposite side of stance limb side
- inadequate gluteus medius strength of stance limb
what is the babinski test?
indication?
- (+) = 1st toe extension and fanning of toes 2-4
- long-tract spinal cord lesion
- what special testing to do when achilles reflex is abnormal?
- indication?
- Ankle clonus
- Performed by quickly placing foot in dorsiflexion
- (+) = involuntary rhythmic beating of foot (clonus)
- Indicates long-tract spinal cord lesion
What is the Waddell’s test?
- Superficial tenderness = (+) if marked pain with light touch over lower lumbar spine
- Axial loading
- Distraction testing = (+) if no pain with seated SLR when pt is distracted during exam
- Regional Disturbances = non-anatomic sensory or motor impairment
3/4 (+) tests = low likelihood of success with injections or surgical intervention
T/F: gait assessment is preferred if the pt has shoes on
F - best result if dogs are out
4 components of gait assessment
- Standard gait
- Heel-to-toe
- Heels only (L4/L5)
- Toes only (S1)
imaging for cervical spine?
- XR - initial imaging for atraumatic pt
- 3 view: AP, Lateral, Odontoid
3 view + AP and PA obliques (5 view) - CT C-spine - trauma pts
what XR view provides a clearer view of the intervertebral foramina
3 view + AP and PA obliques (5 view)
Add what XR view if lateral doesn’t show down to T1 and will show the C7-T1 junction?
swimmers
lowers the other arm down and rotates both shoulders away = better view
imaging for thoracic spine?
XR - 2 views (AP and lateral)
imaging for lumbar spine?
- XR - 2 views (AP and lateral)
- add oblique: view of articular facets and pars interarticularis; “Scottie dog” sign
- injury to paravertebral spinal muscles, ligaments of facet joints, or intervertebral disk
- MCC lost work time and disability in young adults
- MC strained area of the body
acute low back pain
RF for acute low back pain
- Poor physical fitness
- Job dissatisfaction
- Smoking
- Psychosocial issues
s/s of acute low back pain?
- h/o repetitive lifting, twisting, fall or operating vibrating equipment
- Aching pain in low back - radiates, worsens with movement, transient improvement w/ freq position changing
- Difficulty standing upright
- Diffuse tenderness in the low back or SI region
- Dec ROM
- Reflexes, motor, and sensory exam are normal
indications for XR in acute low back pain?
H/o significant trauma, atypical pain, nocturnal pain, night sweats
normal findings found on XR for acute low back pain?
- Normal findings if < 30 y/o
- > 30 → physiologic evidence of aging (not necessarily pathologic)
- Disc space narrowing
- Bone spurs
mgmt for acute low back pain?
- reassurance and educate
- symptomatic tx - heat, NSAIDs/acetaminophen
- avoid intense physical activity and bed rest (min 2 d)
- slowly return to activity, do stretches
- PT if no improvement
indication to use muscle relaxants for low back pain?
only if evidence of muscle spasm on exam
what meds to avoid in acute low back pain
CS and narcotics
referral indications for acute low back pain?
- Evidence of neuro dysfunction on exam - MRI and refer to neurospine surgeon
- Unable to return to work after 4 wks
prognosis of acute low back pain?
- resolves within 1 month
- no improvement >4-6 wks → imaging if not previously ordered
definition of chronic low back pain?
>12 weeks
recurrent and episodic, but may be unremitting
MCC of chronic low back pain?
degeneration of the intervertebral structures
RF ofr chronic low back pain?
- Repetitive trauma
- Infection
- Heredity
- Tobacco use
s/s chronic low back pain?
- Pain aching +/- radiation into the posterior leg (sciatica) - Worsened by ROM; Improved by lying down
- MC Associated stiffness
- Lumbar and sacroiliac tenderness
- ROM may be mildly limited
- SLR may be slightly restricted
- Reflexes, motor, and sensory exams are normal
w/u for chronic low back pain?
-
Lumbar XR - AP/Lateral
- Age-appropriate changes: anterior osteophytes, reduced height of the intervertebral disks) - R/o pathophysiologic processes if concern on H&P - Cancer, stenosis, deformity, osteoporosis and infectious etiologies
mgmt for chronic low back pain
- referral - Injections, biofeedback, cognitive behavioral programs, spinal cord stimulation, psychotherapy, etc
- Address deconditioned state, depression/anger
- A return-to-activity, goal oriented program
MCC of cervical strain?
whiplash mechanism/flexion-extension injury
- diffuse and nonradicular pain - worsened by movement
- anywhere from base of the skull to cervicothoracic junction
- paraspinal spasms and occipital HA
- Tenderness in paraspinous muscles, trapezius, SCM muscles, spinous processes, interspinous ligaments
- Limited ROM
- Reflexes, motor, and sensory exams are normal
dx?
w/u?
mgmt?
- cervical strain
- +/- cervical XR series (AP, lat, odontoid) - usually normal
- soft cervical collar + mild narcotic/NSAIDs; cervical pillow; massage therapy & cervical traction; +/- muscle relaxant; return to activity as tolerated
indication to order a cervical XR series for cervical strain?
h/o trauma, neuro deficit, old
- All 7 cervical vertebrae must be seen
- XR are nml with a simple cervical strain
CI intervention when there has been an acute injury in cervical strain?
cervical manipulation