Lumbar Flashcards
spondylosis
abnormal or diseased
spondylolysis
defect or fracture of pars interarticularis of vertebral arch
spondylolisthesis
forward displacement
Autoimmune disorders key symptoms
- multiple joint issues
- skin issues
- abnormal lab values (CRP, ESR)
- long term steroids, immunosuppresants
cauda equina syndrome
- bilateral leg symptoms
- saddle anesthesia SN
- bowel/bladder changes SN
- vague or intermittent
- red flag medical emergency
myotomes
L1-2: hip flexion
L3-4: knee extension
L4-5: ankle df
L4: ankle inversion
L5: big toes extension
S1: ankle pf, hip extension
SLR
- (+) if reproduction of normal distal symptoms
- sensitive for herniated disc compressing nerve root
X-SLR
- SLR on uninvolved side provokes pain down involved extremity
- potentially there is a large space occupying lesion
- specific
femoral nerve stretch test (prone knee bend)
- (+) is a burning or vague painful sensation down anterior thigh
- includes hip extension
radiculopathy
- strength loss in myotomal pattern
- sensation loss in dermatomal pattern
- decrease of associated DTR
manual therapy for acute LBP
Level A: thrust or mobilizations to reduce pain and disability
Level B: soft tissue for short term pain relief
manual therapy for chronic LBP
Level A: thrust or mobilizations to reduce pain and disability
Level B: thrust or joint mobilizations to reduce pain and disability with leg pain
Level B: soft tissue massage in conjunction with other treatment for short term relief
Level C: dry needling with other treatment for short term relief
leg pain CPG
level B: exercise training including specific trunk muscle activation and movement control
Level B: neural mobilizations with other treatment for short term relief
Level D: should not use mechanical traction
cancer
- skeleton is most common site of metastases
- 40% lumbosacral metastases
- common metastatic cancer causing lumbar pain is prostate
- prior hx of cancer: +LR 23 SP 98%
- ## age >50, unexplained weight loss, previous hx of cancer, failure to improve over 1 month: 100% SN, .06 -LR
spinal infection
- LBP, flank, pelvic pain
- local tenderness over spinal process with percussion
- concurrent infection or drug use
- fever
spinal compression fracure
- major trauma SP
- pain and tenderness
- age over 50
- femal
AAA
- midline lower thoracic/lumbar pain
- palpable pulsating mass
- patient unable to get comfy
- history of smoking
- positive family history
- history of AAA or vascular athersclerotic disorder
Emergent conditions for surgery
- cauda equina: decompression within first 48 hours or permanent neuro damage is possible
- trauma resulting in instability: fall or MVA
non-emergent conditions for surgery
- stable fracture
- herniated disc
- spinal stenosis
decompression surgery
- removal of structural elements of the spine thought to be impinging upon the neural canal
- referred to PT 2-6 weeks after surgery
- laminectomy, discectomy, fusion
fusion surgery
- form of surgery where the theorized mechanism of pain is the result of instability
- fusion seeks to decrease the accessory motion thus stabilizing th espine
disc arthroplasty
- prosthetic replacement for damaged IVD
nucleoplasty
- minimally invasive decompressive procedure using RF waves to destroy a portion of the nucleus
intradiscal electrothermal therapy
- various devices to deliver heat to the disc to either lower pressure, contract/cauterize tissue and seal the outer elements of the disc to limit loss of nuclear elements