Back Pain Flashcards
What are the branches of the sciatic nerve in the leg? What do these branches do?
. Sciatic nerve branches into tibial nerve and common fibular nerve
. Tibial nerve innervates posterior leg muscles and some intrinsic muscles of foot
. Common fibular nerve innervates anterior and lateral leg, and other intrinsic foot muscles
What are the nerve roots of the sciatic nerve?
L4-S3
The sciatic nerve is responsible for motor innervation of which areas?
Innervates posterior thigh muscles and hamstring part of adductor magnus
In total (including branches), what does the sciatic nerve innervate?
Innervates muscles of posterior thigh, leg, and foot
What could shooting pain up the leg be caused by?
Damage to the sciatic nerve
What is most pain of sciatica caused by?
Inflammation around the nerve root (sciatica is a general layman’s term used to describe shooting pain up the back of the leg)
What is surgical decompression used for?
Surgery involving relieving pressure form nerve or nerve root to treat back pain or sciatica
What is laminectomy?
Section of bone removed from one of the vertebra to relieve pressure on affected nerve
What is discectomy?
Section of damaged intervertebral disc is removed
What is spinal fusion
Two or more vertebra joined together with bone graft
What is an epidural?
Local anaesthetic applied to epidural space of spinal canal to provide analgesia to lower spinal segment regions
How can doctors ensure the epidural is applied to the right place?
Use CT or fluoroscopy to make sure epidural administered in optimum place to relieve pain
Name the rough anatomical landmark for L4
Iliac crest
Where do you inject an epidural
Between spinous processes of lumbar vertebrae (spinal cord finishes at L1)
What is the main cause of pain from a ‘slipped disc’?
Inflammatory pain
