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