Cervical Spine Flashcards
Dermatomes
Indicates hip abductor weakness
Trendelenburg Sign
Test for sciatic tension
Seated Straight Leg Raise
(Flip Sign)
Test for lumbar nerve root irritation or compression
Supine Straight Leg Raise
(Popliteal Compression Test)
Test for SI Joint pathology
FABER or Patrick Test
Abnormal test that produces fanning of the toes which indicates spinal cord involvement
Babinski Sign
Dorsiflexion of the ankle and looking for “beats”
Ankle Clonus
Signs to determine whether a patient is faking or not.
Waddell Signs
Rotate and laterally flex the head to try and reproduce radicular symptoms.
Spurling Test
Flicking of the long fingernail and look for index finger and thumb flexion. Indicates pressure in the cervical spine.
Hoffmann Reflex
Non-radicular neck and shoulder pain that occurs suddenly or from trauma due to a LIGAMENTOUS INJURY.
Flexion + Extension Injury
Acute Cervical Sprain
(Whiplash)
Symptoms of Acute Cervical Strain
HEADACHE
Pain anywhere from occiput to cervico-thoracic junction that is worse with motion
- may have spasm or trapezial pain
X-Ray findings of Acute Cervical Strain
- AP
- Lat
- Odontoid
- Flexion + Extension
Loss of Cervical Lordosis
(most of the time the X-Ray is normal)
Acute Cervical Strain Treatment
Soft Collar (1 - 2 weeks)
NSAIDs
Heat + Ice
Physical Therapy
Symptoms of Cervical Fractures
Point Tenderness
Pain with Motion
Radiculopathy
Gait Disturbance
Weakness
Loss of Bowel or Bladder Control
Cervical Fractures Exam
Immobilized
“Step Off” may be present
Rectal Sphincter Function
Vertebral Fracture with posterior cortex involvement with retropulsion into the spinal cord canal
Burst Fracture
C7 Spinous Process Fracture
Clay Shoveler’s Fracture
Facet Subluxation or Dislocation usually has what type of involvement?
Neurological Involvement
Traumatic fracture of C2
Hangman’s Fracture
C1 burst fracture due to axial loading injury.
(Dive into shallow water)
Jefferson’s Fracture
Fracture of the Dens of C2
Odontoid Fracture
Referred neurogenic pain in the distribution of a cervical nerve root, with or without associated numbness, weakness, or loss of reflexes.
- Acute Herniated Nucleus Pulposus (Young)
- Foraminal narrowing from DDD or arthritis
(Elderly)
Cervical Radiculopathy
Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Radiculopathy
Usually Unilateral Arm Pain
Loss of Fine Motor Skills
Loss of Bowel or Bladder Function
Headaches
Neck + Shoulder Pain
Preferred type of spinal imaging for someone who can’t have an MRI.
CT Myelogram
Cervical Radiculoapthy Treatment
NSAIDs
PT
Referral if Neuro Deficits
Two Common Names for Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
- Cervical Arthritis
- Cervical Spondylosis
Symptoms of Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
Bilateral (usually)
Chronic Neck Pain that is worse when Upright
Popping
Grinding
Headache
X-Ray Findings of Cervical DDD
Osteophytes (bone spurs)
Sublaxation
Listhesis (slippage)
Cervical DDD Treatment
NSAIDs
PT
Surgery (very unlikely)
