Cervical Spine DDx 2 Flashcards
cervical myelopathy: onset
insidious with gradual increase in symptoms
cervical myelopathy: sex prevalence
both sexes equally affected
Cervical spondylosis usually begins between what ages?
40-60
Half of patients with CM also have pain where?
- neck
- scapular
- arms
cervical myelopathy: arm symptoms
- weakness
- numbness (nonspecific/nondermatomal)
- hand clumsiness
cervical myelopathy: leg symptoms
- weakness
- difficulty walking
- frequent falls
cervical myelopathy: first signs
increased knee/ankle reflexes
also may note spasticity, hyperreflexia, clonus, Babinski, Hoffman’s sign
cervical myelopathy: later cases exhibit
bowel/bladder dysfunction
cervical myelopathy: dx - radiographs
typically not helpful
cervical myelopathy: dx made with
presentation and physical exam
cervical myelopathy: dx - MRI good for identifying these
- spinal canal stenosis
- SC tumors
cervical myelopathy: cluster
- age > 45
- gait ataxia
- Babinski
- Hoffman’s reflex
- Inverted supinator sign
cervical myelopathy: Conservative approach may have (short/long) term benefit in relief of painful symptoms
short term
cervical myelopathy: conservative approach generally
- anti-inflammatory meds
- cervical immobilization
- PT
cervical spine neoplastic conditions: characteristics
- age > 50
- prior hx of cancer
- unexplained weight loss
- constant pain
- night pain
