Back Disorders COPY Flashcards
1
Q
Define the following:
- Lordosis?
- Kyphosis?
- Scoliosis?
A
- Lordosis - increased anterior convexity in the curvature of the spine
- Kyphosis - exaggeration of posterior convexity of the thoracic vertebral column found commonly with OA and osteoporosis.
- Scoliosis - lateral curve of the spine usually right convex thoracic, most of, which are idiopathic
2
Q
- What is spondylolisthesis?
- Stenosis?
- Spondylolysis?
A
- Spondylolisthesis - Anterior slip, bilateral pars defect, congenital usually L5 on S1, degenerative L4 on L5 - palpable step off with or without neurological symptoms
- Stenosis - narrowing of the spinal canal or neural foramen producing root ischemia or neurogenic claudication.
- Spondylolysis - stress fracture of pars interarticularis
3
Q
Physical Exam of LB should include?
5
A
- Note curves of spine, posture, uneven height of iliac crests
- ROM - flexion, extension, sidebend, and rotation
- Palpation of spinous processes - prominence especially of L4-L5 in relation to another indicates potential spondy
- Paravertebral palpation
- LE ROM - decreased IR/ER or reproduction of pain may indicate hip joint pathology
4
Q
Nerve Root Distribution of the Lumbar Spine
- How should we test L1-L2-L3?
- Muscle test for hip flexion/testing what?
- Sensory is where?
A
- L1-L2-L3 no individual reflex, muscle and sensory testing only.
- Muscle test - hip flexion = iliopsoas
- Sensory - area between inguinal ligament and above patellae.
5
Q
L4
- Reflex?
- Muscle test?
- Dorsiflexion?
- Sensory?
A
- Reflex - Patellar
- Muscle test - Ankle
- Dorsiflexion = Anterior Tibialis
- Sensory - Medial foot and leg
6
Q
L5
- Reflex?
- Muscle test?
- Sensory?
A
- Reflex - none
- Muscle test - great toe extension = Extensor hallucus longus
- Sensory - lateral leg and dorsum of foot
7
Q
S1
- Reflex?
- Muscle test?
- Sensory?
A
- Reflex - Achilles
- Muscle test - ankle eversion = peroneus longus and brevis
- Sensory - lateral foot
8
Q
Low Back Pain
- What vertebrae are the largest and strongest?
- Intervertebral disc lies between 2 _______ vertebrae?
- Disc is composed of what? 2
- The function of the disc is what?
A
- Lumbar
- adjacent
3.
- nucleus pulposus (central gelatinous portion)
- enclosed in several layers of fibrocartilaginous laminae (annulus).
4. to provide cushion and facilitate movement in the spine.
9
Q
- What is the ALL ligament?
- PLL?
- What connects the spinous processes? 2
A
- ALL - Broad sheath of connective tissue along with the anterior surface of vertebral bodies.
- PLL - Lies along the posterior surface of vertebral bodies inside the vertebral canal.
- Interspinous and supraspinous - connect spinous processes.
10
Q
Lower back pain: Musculature innervated by?
Enclosed by what?
A
Innervated by dorsal rami of spinal nerves and are enclosed by fascia.
11
Q
- Muscles of the spine attach to the what? 2
- Superior and inferior articulating processes articulate with vertebrae above and below to create what on either side of the spine?
- Openings between 2 adjacent vertebrae is the intervertebral foramen which forms the what?
A
- spinous and transverse processes
- facet joint
- the spinal canal, the passage of the spinal nerves occurs here
12
Q
Dx tests for lower back pain?
6
A
- plain radiograph
- Bone scan
- Diskography
- CT myelogram
- MRI
- Labs
13
Q
NEVER GET CONTRAST ON THE SPINE UNLESS?? 3
A
- Tumor
- Infection
- Recurrent heriated disc
14
Q
- What plain radiographs angles will you get and if what?
- What can this show? 5
- What will a bone scan rule out? 2
- Diskography is for what?
- CT myelogram is useful when?
- MRI most useful for what? 2
- Which labs and for who? 2
A
- Plain radiographs - AP and Lateral along with A/P pelvis and lateral hip on affected side.
- Visualize
- compression fractures,
- DDD,
- scoliosis,
- spondy,
- hip OA i.e. bony deformities. - Bone scan -
- Rule out infection,
- occult metastatic tumor. - Diskography - surgical purposes only- determines level of pain source.
- CT Myelogram - accurate assessment of stenosis.
- MRI - most useful for
- disc injury,
- road map for surgery - Labs - High risk patients or unimproved after 8-12 weeks of conservative treatment.
- CBC and
- Sed Rate to rule out infection, tumor.
15
Q
Hernaited Disk
- A herniated disk fragment comes from the what?
- In the normal condition, this nucleus is in the disk center securely contained by what?
- When a fragment of nucleus herniates, it does what?
A
- nucleus pulposus of the disc.
- the annulus fibrosus.
- irritates and/or compresses the adjacent nerve root.
16
Q
Herniated disks
- This can cause the pain syndrome known as what?
A
- sciatica and, in severe cases, dysfunction of the nerve.
Almost 5% of males and 2.5% of females experience sciatica at some time in their lifetime.
17
Q
Herniated disk
- Symptoms?
- Radiation?
- Level of pain depends on what?
A
- Symptoms – disk herniations can or cannot be associated with some degree of back pain.
- Pain usually radiates into the leg.
- Level of leg pain/radiculitis usually depends on level of disk involvement.
may be characterized as less achy, burning, or similar to an electrical shock and is often described as a shooting or stabbing pain
18
Q
Herniated Disk
- Which area?
- Causes what kind of pain?
- The pain usually improves how?
- What sensation also occurs with the pain?
A
- L5-S1, which occurs most commonly,
- causes lateral and posterior thigh and leg pain.
- The pain usually improves when the patient is in the supine position with the knee bent
- Numbness or tingling occurs with a distribution similar to the pain.
19
Q
Herniated Disk
- On examination, patients may be neurologically normal, or may have a profound what?
- What sign is almost always present for lower levels of herniated disk?
Whats more predictive of a lumbar hernaited disc?
- Gait is often abnormal. Muscle weakness may be revealed particularly when testing what?
A
- radiculopathy
- A positive straight-leg raising sign is almost always present for lower levels. However, a crossed straight-leg raising sign may be even more predictive of a lumbar disc herniation.
- walking on heels and toes.
20
Q
Hernaited disks
- Imaging?
- What could be missed with this imaging?
- Tx?
A
- Imaging – MRI is most useful.
- However, far lateral recess disk herniation can be missed with MRI.
- Treatment for most disk herniation consist of conservative care vs. surgical management.