C-Spine Screen and Differentiation Flashcards
What is the goal for screening acuity
- Identify the specific tissue that is presumed to be the source or cause of the patient’s pain or dysfunction. The issue is the tissue.
- Confirm the 3-R’s and validate their “pain experience”: reproducible sign, region of origin, & reactivity level
What does SPINSS stand for and is used for
- Used for acuity
- Severity
- Pain generator
- Irritability
- Nature
- Stage
- Stability
What are the key muscles to check for in the neck
- Upper traps
- Levator scap
- SCM
- Occipital triangle
What are the 3 sections of the cervical spine you should observe during ROM screen
- Upper (OA/AA)
- Middle
- CT junction
Describe a cervical spine ROM assessment
- 1st just watch the movement & observe: ease of motion, areas of restriction or hypermobility (hinge points/skin creases), C1-C2 expect much more rotation
- 2nd record objective number/formal assessment: Gonimeter and/or inclinometer
Describe upglides and downslides and facet direction
- Upglide: anterior & cranial glide (open)
- Downglide: posterior & caudal glide (closing)
What are the cervical spine ROM normal values
- Forward flexion: 50º
- Extension: 80º
- Lateral flexion: 40º
- Rotation: 70-90º
Describe cervical motion testing/differentiation b/w upper c-spine and lower c-spine
- Retraction: upper c-spine flexion (opens OA space) and lower c-spine extension
- Protraction: upper c-spine extension (compresses the OA space) and lower c-spine flexion
- Rotation: OA minimal, AA maximal roughly 50%, and C2-C7 the other 50%
- YES joint = OA
- NO joint = AA
Describe the different UE nerve tensioners
- Median nerve: waiters carry into extended arm and wrist
- Radial nerve: throwing something behind you with shoulder extension and wrist flexion
- Ulnar nerve: doing a hair flip/putting an OK sign on your eye
Myotomes for C1-T1
- C1 and C2: neck flexion
- C3: neck sidebending
- C4: shoulder shrug
- C5: shoulder ABD
- C6: wirst extension
- C7: elbow extension
- C8: finger flexion, thumb ABD
- T1: finger ABD
On what dermatome is there a three way split between ulnar, median, and radial nerve
- C7 dermatome on the back of the middle finger knuckle
Describe a peripheral nerve quick screen of the hand
- OK sign
- Median (C5-C8): resist pulling apart the OK sign (anterior interosseous)
- Ulnar (C8-T1): resist finger ABD
- Radial (C6-C8): resist wirst extension
Reflex screen differences b/w UMN and LMN lesions
- UMN: hyperreflexia, reduced MMT, increased tone, normal atrophy until disuse prolonged, semi/entire limb loss of sensory pattern, no fasciculation, up-going/extension Babinski sign
- LMN: hyporeflexia, severely decreased MMT, decreased tone, early atrophy, peripheral nerve or dermatome sensory loss pattern, yes fasciculation, down-going/flexion Babinski sign
Purposes of a palpation exam/motion exam of the cervical spine
- Confirm the 3-R’s and validate their “pain experience”: reproducible sign, region or origin, and reactivity level
- Introduction of your hands to the patient
- Observe for pain limited motion (started already in the exam flow)
- Movement screen
- Limitations use Goni or inclinometer
Describe muscle length testing for upper trap, levitator scapulae, and SCM
- Upper Trap: C-Flex+SB C/L + Rot I/L (SP goes C/L VB goes I/L)
- Levator Scapulae: C-Flex+Rot C/L + SB C/L & Depress the shoulder (scapula) All motion away from side of symptoms
- SCM: C-Ext, SB C/L + Rot I/L
Describe local mobility
- Nerve: Neural Tension
- Joint: PIVMS & PAVMS
- Soft Tissue: Flexibility, Fascia