Cspine Flashcards
Cervical strain definition
whiplash, causes Muscular + ligamentous structures of the cervical spine to be stretched beyond physiologic capacity
Causes
sudden hyperextension followed by hyper-flexion of the neck.
Commonly from Rear end automobile collisions or Sports trauma
Clinical presentation
Neck pain
Persistent stiffness
Trapezial/upper back pain
Muscle spasm
Headaches
Limited ROM
Must be aware to the discomfort it causes patients, however it usually has a benign course + minimal long term sequelae (an aftereffect of an injury)
Our job to rule out morbid conditions, e.g. bony fracture from the large majority of cervical strains. Must be able to identify Ps with bone and neurologic pathology such as fractures, dislocations and spinal cord injuries that mimic the condition of a cervical strain
Prognosis
In at least 40% of people, there should be some resolution of symptoms by 6 weeks, and by 12 weeks, there should be complete resolution in at least 40% of people.
Approximately 50% of people fully recover within 1 year of WAD.
Degeneration definition
Spontaneous degeneration of either disc or facet joints
Causes
Accumulated wear and tear that occurs over a long period of time
Age groups affected
Elderly
By the age of 35, approximately 30% of people will show evidence of disc degeneration at one or more levels.
By the age of 60, more than 90% of people will show evidence of some disc degeneration
Risk factors
- Ageing
- Tough manual labour jobs
- Vigorous sports e.g. rugby
Clinical presentation
Neck pain
Stiffness
Decreased ROM
Numbness, tingling, or even weakness in the neck, arms and shoulders are additional symptoms due to nerves in the cervical area becoming irritated or pinched
Ps should be asked to perform flexion, extension and rotational movements and report whether neck pain increases or decreases.
Prognosis
Symptoms worsen if left untreated
Treatment centred around reliving pain, wont fully treat/relive symptoms
Herniation definition
When the outer part (annulus fibrosus) gets tears or splits, the gel (nucleus pulposus) can poke out. This is what it means for a disk to become herniated. (think jam donut)
Causes
Traumatic events, some spontaneous cases
Most occur between C5 and T1
Age groups
More common in elderly due to wear and tear & less water in discs
Risk factors
Age
Lack of regular exercise
Tobacco use
Poor posture (i.e., incorrect lifting or twisting causing additional stress on the cervical spine)
Injury.
Clinical presentation
Frequent headaches
Limited ROM
Pain that originates around the paraspinal muscles radiates down one of the upper extremities
Paraspinal muscles may go into spasm, causing discomfort on palpation
Finger numbness and tingling
Can cause spinal cord compression, where disc material pushes directly on spinal cord
Prognosis
Over 95% of people with arm pain due to a herniated disc improve in about six weeks and return to normal activity. If you don’t respond to conservative treatment or your symptoms get worse, surgery may be recommended.
Stenosis definiton
A condition in which the spinal canal is too small for the spinal cord and nerve roots. This can cause damage to the spinal cord.
Causes
Bone spurs.
Herniated disks.
Thick ligaments - can become stiff and thick over time. Thick ligaments can push into the spinal canal.
Tumors - Rarely, tumors can form inside the spinal canal.
Spinal injuries.
Age groups
Most people with spinal stenosis are over age 50
Risk factors
Scoliosis or other spinal problems.
Clinical presentation
Numbness
Tingling or weakness in a hand, leg, foot or arm
Neck pain
Common to present vague neurological symptoms -
Problems with walking and balance
Bowl and bladder inconsistence
Ps expected to have hyperreflexia in the in their upper and lower extremities
Prognosis
Spinal stenosis symptoms often become worse over time, but this may happen slowly. If the pain does not respond to these treatments, or you lose movement or feeling, you may need surgery.
Cervical facet syndrome
A type of osteoarthritis that occurs when the structure of one or more of the vertebral facet joints begins to deteriorate
Causes
Disk degeneration and disk narrowing increase facet joint loading and consequently facet osteoarthritis
Age groups
50 and above
risk factors
- Genetic disposition
- Smoking
- Either sedentary jobs at a computer or high levels of repeated muscle tension
Clinical presentation
- Unilateral pain without radiation to the arm
- Rotation and retroflexion are frequently painful or limited
- Pain with pressure on the dorsal side of the spinal column at the level of the facet joints
- Pain and limitation of extension
- Absence of neurological symptoms