Lumbar Flashcards
Red flags accompanying lumbar pain for cancer
Unexplained weight changes
Hematochezia (bright blood in stool)
Breast changes
Night sweats
Red flags accompanying lumbar pain for nerve root damage
Muscle weakness
Loss of DTR
Red flags accompanying lumbar pain for herniated disc
Positive straight leg test
Red flags accompanying lumbar pain for AAA
Pulsatile abdominal mass
Red flags accompanying lumbar pain for fractures
Pinpoint tenderness over SP’s
Red flags accompanying lumbar pain for cauda equina damage
Saddle anesthesia
Loss of bowel/bladder control
What does the “stork test” with increased pain indicate
Spondylolysis
Spondylolisthesis
Facet atrophy
Symptoms of cauda equina syndrome
Low back pain
Saddle anesthesia
Loss of bladder/bowel control
Decreased/absent deep tendon reflex (L3 - L4, S1)
Loss of anal sphincter tone
If you encounter someone with cauda equina syndrome
Refer to ER immediately for neurosurgery
Normal range for Ferguson’s angle
25-35 degrees between lumbar and sacrum
Postural/tonic muscles become what with dysfunction
Short
Hypertonic
Spastic
Dynamic/phasic muscles become what with dysfunction
Inhibited
Hypotonic
Weak
Function of the iliolumbar ligament
Runs from L4/L5 TP to iliac crest
Restricts movement of LS junction
Action of quadratus lumborum
Side bending
Action of psoas major
Hip flexion
