Cervical Spine Fractures Flashcards
What is the most common spine fracture?
Lumbar
Why is the lumbar spine the most common part to have back pain? (2 things)
- Upper body loads lumbar spine region
- Higher mechanical stresses + strains
What are the possible causes of neck and back pain? (9 things)
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Disc herniation
- Spinal stenosis
- Congenital anomalies
- Spondylolisthesis
- Trauma
- Facet-joint pain
- Sacro-iliac joint pain
- Cancer
What is the gold standard investigation for back pain?
MRI
When are XR and CT useful for back pain?
In trauma setting (e.g #s)
What are the treatment options for back pain? (4 things)
- Analgesia
- Physio
- Psychological pain management
- Spinal fusion surgery
In spinal fusion surgery, what is given to the patient at the expense of what?
Pain relief at the expense of movement
What is sciatica?
Pain in leg @ distribution of sciatic nerve
Is sciatica back pain or nerve root pain?
Nerve root pain
What are the causes of sciatica? (4 things)
Nerve root compression / irritation from:
- Herniated (slipped) disc
- Spinal stenosis
- Trauma – bone fragment retropulsed aka gone backwards into spinal canal)
- Tumour
What is the gold standard investigation for sciatica?
MRI lumbar spine
What is the treatment for sciatica? (2 things)
- Analgesia
- Remain active
Most sciatica resolves with X?
Time
What should be considered if there is persistent pain in sciatica, and the MRI shows dermatomal distribution of symptoms?
Discectomy
What is whiplash?
A flexion-extension injury to neck
What is whiplash caused by?
Sudden deceleration
What are the symptoms of whiplash? (3 things)
- Neck pain + stiffness
- Neck muscle tenderness
- Headaches
How long after an accident does it take for whiplash symptoms to develop?
6-12 hours
How is a diagnosis of whiplash made? (3 things)
- History
- @ exam: muscle spasm, neck tenderness, ROM
- Imaging not usually req
What is the treatment for whiplash? (3 things)
- Self limiting
- Analgesia
- Encourage normal neck movements