Cervical Spine complaint Flashcards
Common traumatic cervical spine injuries?
Myofascial and SCIWORA
SCIWORA
spinal cord injury with out radiographic abnormality
Describe a SCIWORA
Normal CT of cervical spine but presence of neurological symptoms
What must you do with a SCIWORA case?
KEEP IN NECK BRACE/IMMOBILIZED until MRI or consult with neurosurgeon
Common atraumatic cervical spine injuries?
Musculoskeletal = most common
Neurologic = radiculopathy and myelopathy
Referred pain = thoracic outlet
Most common cause of acute/chronic neck pain in adults???????
CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS
How does cervical spondylosis look on an x-ray
Degenerating disks and presence of osteophytes
Any deficit relating to the spinal cord; distal extremity weakness and clumsiness
Myelopathy
Any deficit relating to the nerve roots; burning, sharp pain down arm
Radiculopathy
Most common level of cervical radiculopathy?
C5-C6
How do you diagnose meningitis?
Lumbar puncture
Signs of meningitis?
Fever, malaise, rash, stiff neck, headache
What is thoracic outlet syndrome?
Space between first rib and clavicle is compressing the neurovascular bundles there
Signs of thoracic outlet syndrome?
Arm pain, numbness, weakness, gets worse when elevating hands and arms above head and HAND MUSCLE WASTING
Most patients with atraumatic neck pain and no red flag symptoms do NOT need?
Imaging
What should you not check on a patient with a traumatic cervical injury until cleared radiographically or by a neurosurgeon?
Neck ROM!
Special tests for cervical radiculopathy?
Neck compression, neck distraction and spurlings tests
Neck compression test
pt is seated and apply a downward force on top of their head while in neutral
(+) = pain, paresthesia, numbness down arm