Cervical spine Flashcards
What levels of the spine are uncovertebral joints aka joints of luschka present?
C3-C7
What age does the uncovertebral joints aka joints of luschka start developing and when are they fully mature?
Age 9, Age 33
T/F: cervical discs have a true annulus
F
Which cervical vertebrae does not have a spinous process?
C1/Atlas
Which cervical spinous process is not bifid?
C7
What are the attachments of the nuchal ligament?
Occiput to spinous processes of C3-C5 and merges with the supraspinous ligament
What cervical ligament is most commonly injured in pediatric patients following high speed collisions?
Tectorial membrane - causes neurologic symptoms during flex/ext movement
Which scalene muscles attach to the 1st rib?
Ant/med scalene
The greater occipital nerve (C2) pierces through what muscle? And what condition can entrapment cause?
Semispinalis cervicis, greater occipital neuralgia
What are the primary symptoms of greater occipital neuralgia?
Constant ache, burn, throb w/ intermittent shock/shooting; may have pain behind the eye
Which regions do the external CA/internal CA provide blood flow?
External: face, neck, c-spine
Internal: brain
What does the carotid sinus do?
Senses blood pressure and oxygenation levels
Where is the carotid sinus located?
By the jaw line @ the bifurcation of the common carotid artery
What does the cervical plexus originate from?
Ventral rami of C1-C4
What does the brachial plexus originate from?
Nerve roots C5-C8
How much motion is at the OA joint?
15-20 total degrees of flexion/extension (1:2 ratio)
How much motion is at the AA joint?
Rotational about 50% total neck rotation (35-40 degrees)
Coupled motion of C3-C7
Couple ipsilaterally, meaning RR also has SB to the R
What is the purpose of coupling?
To maintain level gaze
What are the 5 factors that can strongly predict chronicity in WAD cases?
- High pain intensity (>6/10)
- High self-reported disability (NDI >30%)
- High pain catastrophizing (>30)
- High acute post-traumatic stress symptoms
- Cold hyperalgesia
What are the strongest risk factors for non-traumatic neck pain?
Female sex, prior hx of neck pain
What is horners syndrome?
Ptosis (dropping eyelid)
Miosis (constricted pupil)
Anhidrosis (lack of face sweat)
T/F: recent trauma or infections of the head and neck can be risk factors for cardiovascular disease?
True
Top signs of vertebrobasilar artery dissection
Unsteadiness/ataxia
Dysphagia/dysarthria/aphasia
LE weakness
UE weakness
Top signs of internal carotid dissection
Ptosis
UE weakness
Facial palsy
LE weakness
What is the validity of VBI testing?
Poor, positional testing such as sustained extension and/or rotation of the C-spine to test for VBI is NOT recommended
What are symptoms consistent with ligamentous instability of the craniovertebral junction?
headaches, severe sub-occipital muscle spasms, fear/anxiety associated with head motion
Is the Sharp-Purser test valid?
Found to be inconsistent with diagnostic accuracy
What population is the Sharp-Purser test appropriate for?
RA & neck pain
What are some common symptoms of cancer in the the head/neck?
Persistent sore throat, difficulty swallowing, ringing in the ears
What is the sensitivity for 2-item PHQ-2?
High
What is the minimal detectable change in the NDI?
5/50 for uncomplicated neck pain
10/50 for cervical radiculopathy
NOTE: can fluctuate
What is the first critical step to effective patient management?
Taking a thorough patient hx (open ended, patient led)
What is the classic distribution of cervicogenic headaches?
Rams horn
What is nociceptive pain?
Produced by nociceptive afferents, acute mechanical or inflammatory pain
What is peripheral neuropathic pain?
neuropathic pain derived from disease of the somatosensory system
What is central nociplastic pain?
Not the result of peripheral input, similar to “central sensitization”
What is maladaptive cognition?
Illogical or incorrect beliefs related to pain, i.e. pain catastrophizing
What is sensorimotor dysintegration?
altered input or disagreement between 2 different sensory inputs (i.e. visual vs vestibular)
T/F: Posture has shown strong associations with pain and/or function
False
Loss of combined cervical extension and rotation may hint at what?
Degenerative changes of a facet joint
T/F: Cervical radiculopathy is associated with loss of rotation motion in the lower c-spine
True
What is the sensitivity/specificity of segmental mobility testing associated with report of neck pain?
Sensitivity: 0.82
Specificity: 0.79
What are the 4 categories for neck pain classification?
- Neck pain with mobility deficits
- Neck pain with movement coordination impairments (WAD)
- Neck pain with headache
- Neck pain with radiating pain