Compression Neuropathy Lab Flashcards
Bilateral UE weakness DDx
- Spinal cord
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Systemic (electrolyte abnormality)
Unilateral weakness in 1 limb DDx
-
Localized region of a limb
- Mononeuropathy
- Radiculopathy
- Plexopathy
-
Entire limb
- Plexopathy
- Central lesion
- Sx of radiculopathy
- Objective
- S:
- Pain in the neck that radiates down the arm to a specific region in hand due to impingement of nerve at cervical spine (disc disease, herniation, degenerative arthritis)
- O
- numbness
- weakness along distribution
- decreased reflex (dep on what cervical level affected)
What is the first test we run if we suspect radiculopathy and why?
+ spurlings; CHEAPER than MRI and EMG
Diagnosing radiculopathy
- Diagnose:
- OA (for SB/translation)
- ex OA F SrRl
- AA (rotation only by FULLY flexing!)
- AA Rr
- C2-C7
- OA (for SB/translation)
Treatment for radiculopathy
- Cervical: contralateral traction (ST)
- Cervical subocciptal release (ST)
- Cervical: unilateral forearm fulcrum bending
- Cervical: bilateral forearm fulcrum bending
- OA MET
- AA MET
Symptoms of a plexopathy?
- Intermittant numbness and tingling NOT consistent w 1 nerve root
- Pain in neck/shoulder
- Generalized, intermittant weakness of extremity
Speciality tests for plexopathy and what they indicate is causing the compression
-
EAST
- general
-
Adson
- Scalene muscles
- 1st rib
- Cervical rib
-
Military brace
- Clavicle
-
Wright
- Pec minor
Treat plexopathy (+ Adson test => 1st rib)
- Inhalation SD MET
- Exhalation SD MET
Treat plexopathy (+ Military brace => clavicle)
- Clavicle SC Elevated/adducted SD; MET
- Clavicle SC Horizontal extension SD; MET
- Clavicle AC IR SD; MET
4.
Treat plexopathy (+ Wright test=> Pec minor)
-
Pec minor counterstrain (f-F ADD)
- Pt lays on back; doc on opp or same side
- Contact pec minor TP:
- inferomedial to coracoid process
- f-F ADD
- Adduct patients arm across the chest , pulling shoulder anterior
- Hold for 90 seconds and return to neutral
Name 3 mononeuropathies
- Pronator teres (median n entrapment)
2. Carpal tunnel (median n entrapment)
3. Cubital tunnel (ulnar n entrapment)
Pronator teres syndrome
S:
O: (+ speciality test, sensation, reflexes)
- S
- Numbness/tingling of forearm => wrist => first 3 fingers of the hand
- Weak grip
- O
- phalen/ OK test/ Tinels sign at wrist (all test median N)
- Restisted pronation test
- Decreased sensation
- NL reflexes
What specialty tests test median N?
-
Phalens
- put dorsal parts of hands together => wrist flexion for 60 sec
- +; paresthesia in distrib on median n => carpal tunnel
-
Ok test (anterior intereouss branch => +; anterior interosseous nerve palsy)
- Make a ok sign with both hands
- +: one hand makes a pinched circle (DIP joint on index finger is extended, not flexed) => anterior interosseous palsy
-
Tinels sign @ wrist
- Tap on transverse carpal L (between thenar/hypothenar em) while patients hand is extended
- + pain/numb/tingling to medial nerve distribution (thumb, index and 1/2 of 3rd finger) => carpal tunnel (median n. entrapment

OMT for pronator teres syndrome
-
Pronator teres counterstrain (F PRO Add)
- Pt lays on back; doc on same side
- Find TP: near medial epicondyle
- F PRO Add
- Flex and pronate elbow (palms face floor); adduct
- Hold for 90seconds => neutral
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Subjective:
O: (speciality tests, sensation, reflexes)
- S
- Wake up at night with wrist pain and numb/ting in first 3.5 fingers
- Day: pain is intermittant and dull/achy
- O
- Phalen/ prayer/ OK/ Tinnel test
- Decreased sensation
- NL reflexes
+ special tests for carpal tunnel
- Phalens
- Tinels
- OK
- Prayer
OMT for carpal tunnel
- Wrist extension carpal SD; HVLA
- Wrist flexion carpal SD; HVLA
- Wrist: isotonic MET
- Wrist: flexor retinaculum MFR
- Wrist: figure 8; ART
Name SD if this is hard

Wrist flexion SD (likes to flex, cant extend)
Name SD if this is hard

Wrist extension SD (like to extend, cant flex)
Pic if flexing wrist
Name SD if this is hard

Name SD if this is hard

Cubital tunnel syndrome
Subjective
Objective (sp tests, sensation, reflexes)
- S
- Numbness and pain from medial forearm => 4th/5th fingers
- O
- Tinnel posterior/superior to elbow/ + Froments
- Decreased sensation
- NL reflexes
Speciality tests for ulner nerve palsy
-
Froments sign
- Tell pt to pinch piece of paper with [thumb and index finger] while doc pulls on paper.
- test: IP joint of thumb flexes => ulnar nerve palsy/weak ADDUCTOR POLLICIS
- Tinels test at elbow

