Cervical Spine Red Flags Flashcards
1
Q
cervical myelopathy
A
- sensory disturbance of hands
- muscle wasting of hand intrinsic muscles
- unsteady gait
- Hoffman’s reflex
- hyper-reflexive
- bowel and bladder disturbance
- multi-segmental weakness and/or sensory changes
2
Q
cervical myelopathy CPR (3/5)
A
- age > 45
- babinski
- inverted supinator
- hoffman’s
- gait deviation
3
Q
neoplastic condition
A
- age > 50
- previous history of cancer
- unexplained weight loss
- constant pain
- no relief w bed rest
- night pain
- fatigue, malaise, unwellness
4
Q
upper cervical ligamentous instability
A
- occipital headache and numbness
- severe limitation during neck AROM in all directions
- signs of cervical myelopathy
5
Q
vertebral artery insufficiency
A
- drop attacks
- dizziness (lightheadedness related to neck movement)
- dysphasia
- dysarthria
- diplopia
- positive cranial nerve signs
6
Q
inflammatory or systemic disease
A
- temperature > 100 F
- BP > 160/95 mm Hg
- resting pulse > 100bpm
- resting respiration > 25 bpm
- fatigue, malaise, unwellness
- redness, warmth, swelling
- discoloration (jaundice)
7
Q
visceral referred pain: cardiac
A
- chest, neck, and arm pain
- jaw, posterior thorax, epigrastrum
- classically left-sided C8 distribution
- angina
- associated symptoms of dyspnea, LE edema, SOB, fatigue, syncope
8
Q
visceral referred pain: gall bladder
A
- recurrent, right thoracic/lower rib region, right scapular region
- increased intensity following meals
- at risk: obese women in their 40s
- associated symptoms: nausea/heartburn, vomiting/diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, jaundiced, rectal bleeding/stool changes
9
Q
visceral referred pain: lungs
A
- thoracic and chest region pain
- possibly cervical region of shoulders (Pancoast tumor)
10
Q
visceral referred pain: pulmonary
A
- rarely manifests as pain
- infections, pleurisy, cancer
- difficulty with respiration, cough
- hoarseness, sore throat, wee-zing
