Lumbar Flashcards

1
Q

How many facet joints in lumbar spinal segments?

A

Five pairs

Apophyseal or zyoapophyseal (facet)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What direction do lubar facets face?

A

Superior: medial and posterior
Inferior: lateral and anterior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Which movements are limited by facet joints

A

Side flexion
Flexion
Extension

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Relationship between lumbar TVPs and SPs

A

Same level

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Lumbar joints: Capsular pattern

A

Side flexion = rotation, then extension

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Degrees of AROM: lumbar flexion

A

40-60º

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Degrees of AROM: lumbar extension

A

20-35º

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Degrees of AROM: lumbar lateral flexion

A

15-20º

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Degrees of AROM: Rotation

A

2-18º

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Lumbar: IL side flexion increases pain; no radicular symptoms

A

Problem probably intra-articular (since muscles and ligaments relaxed)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Lumbar: IL side flexion increases pain and radicular symptoms

A

Likely disc protrusion lateral to nerve root

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Lumbar: CL side flexion increases pain and radicular symptoms

A

Likely disc protrusion medial to nerve root

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Lumbar: coupled movements

A

side flexion + rotation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Ligament unique to lumbar spine

A

Iliolumbar ligament
TVP of L5 to posterior ilium
Stabilizes L5, prevents anterior displacement

Commonly injured with flexion + twisting

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Anterior longitudinal ligament

A

Occiput –> sacrum
Strongest ligament in body
Prevents hyperextension

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Posterior longitudinal ligament

A

Occiput to sacrum
Anterior aspect of neural canal
Attaches to IVD but not vertebral bodies
Limits forward bending

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Ligamentum flavum

A

Ant-inf border of superior lamina –> posterior border of inferior lamina
C2 –> S1
Most elastic tissue in the body
Prevents meninsci and synovial lining from being caught in articular joint surfaces

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Intertransverse Ligaments

A

Limit lateral flexion and rotation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Interspinous ligaments

A

Go up and backwards, not up and forwards

–> allow for flexion but within control

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Supraspinous ligaments

A

Connect aspices of spines C7-L4

Most superficial, most likely to sprain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Nuchal Ligament

A

Supraspinous ligament from C7–> occiput

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Lumbar: Each nerve root is named for …

A

The vertebra above it.

Thoracic: same; Cervical: named for below

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Two components of Intervertebral Discs

A

Nucleus pulposes

Annulus pulposes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Function of IVD

A
  1. shock absorption
  2. hold vertebrae together while allowing movement
  3. separate vertebrae into functional segments
  4. separate vertebrae to allow passage of nerve roots through intervertebral foramina
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Lumbarization

A

Unfused S1 –> additional lumbar segment

Lower stability, increased mobility

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Sacralization

A

Fused L5 –> additional sacral segment

Lower mobility, increased stability

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Spondylosis

A

Degeneration of IVD

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Spondylolysis

A

Defect in pars interarticularis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Spondylolisthesis

A

Forward displacement of one vertebral segment over another

30
Q

Retrolisthesis

A

Backwards displacement of one vertebra on another

31
Q

Motion segment

A

Facet joints + IVDs

32
Q

Four stages of disc herniation:

A
  1. protrusion
  2. prolapse
  3. extrusion
  4. sequestration
33
Q

Protrusion

A

Nucleus bulges without rupture of annulus fibrosus

34
Q

Prolapse

A

“Only outermost fibres of annulus contain nucleus” (I think it’s a big protrusion)

35
Q

Extrusion

A

Annulus is perforated and discal material moves into epidural space

36
Q

Sequestration

A

Formation of discal fragments from annulus and nucleus outside the disc proper

37
Q

Most common herniation locations

A

L4-5 (affects 5th lumbar nerve root)
then L5-S1 (affects first sacral root)
then L3-4

38
Q

Common presentation of disc herniation

A
    • few days after excessive activity or mild injury
    • aggravated by coughing, sneezing, reaching or stooping
    • lumbar muscle spasm –> decreased lordosis
    • lateral truck shift in standing
    • restricted active flexion and extension
39
Q

Most common herniation direction

A

Posterolateral

PLL prevents it from going directly posterior

40
Q

Herniation: Pain and position

A

Worse with sitting, lifting, twisting, bending, sustained posture

Morphs to severe pain radiating down one limb

Often better with extension

41
Q

Herniation: pain in anterolateral leg

A

L4

42
Q

Herniation: pain radiating to posterior foot

A

L5

43
Q

Cauda equina syndrome

A

Lesion affecting cauda equina

Loss of bladder and bowel function, saddle anaesthesis

44
Q

Schmorl’s Nodules

A

Herniations of nucleus pulposus into vertebral body

Results from direct vertical pressure

45
Q

Paresthesia

A

Pins and needles, burning

46
Q

Herniation vs Facet Lock

A

Herniation:
– immediate pain, posterior thigh, leg, foot, glutes,

Facet Lock

    • pain doesn’t go distal to knee
    • back may get locked into position
47
Q

Mechanical LBP

A

aka lumbago
Unilateral pain with no referral below knee
Possible strain, sprain, facet joint or SI joint problem

48
Q

Back/buttock pain.
Worse in flexion. Better with extension.
Stiff in am

A

Mechanical LBP

Likely disc involvement (minor herniation, spondylosis, sprain, strain)

49
Q

Back/buttock pain
Worse with extension/rotation
Better with flexion

A

Mechanical LBP

Likely facet joint involvement, strain

50
Q

Leg pain below knee
Myotomes affected, dermatome pain
Worse with flexion, better with extension

A

Nonmechanical LBP

Nerve root irritation – most likely herniation

51
Q

Leg pain below knee, maybe bilateral
Myotomes affected, dermatome pain
Pain with walking, better with rest

A

Neurogenic
intermittent claudication
Stenosis

52
Q

What refers pain to the low back?

A

Pancreatic tumours

53
Q

Looks mechanical, but DDx of disc involvement

A

Pain on standing, flexion
Improvement when walking
No muscle tenderness

54
Q

Normal lordotic curve

A

50º

55
Q

What happens to lumbar SPs during flexion

A

(Anterior roll, posterior glide)

Move further apart and posteriorly

56
Q

What happens to lumbar SPs during extension

A

(Posterior roll, anterior glide)

Move closer together and anteriorly

57
Q

Three grades of DDD

A
  1. dysfunctional
  2. unstable
  3. stabilization
58
Q

Dysfunctional DDD

A

Phase 1
Tearing around outer surface of annulus
Disc begins to shrink

59
Q

Unstable DDD

A

Phase 2
Joint loses strength
Continued tearing on horizontal axis of didsc
Cartilage degeneration

60
Q

Stabilization (DDD)

A

Phase 3
Surface of vertebral bodies above and below of IVD showing damage. Disc thin and fibrotic.
Formation of arthritic osteophytes (spurs)

61
Q

Constant ache

A

Inflammatory process, venous hypertension

62
Q

Pain on movement

A

Noxious mechanical stimulus (stretch, pressure, crush)

63
Q

Pain accumulates with activity

A

Repeated mechanical stress
Inflammation
DDD

64
Q

Pain increases with sustained posture

A

Muscle fatigue

Gradual tissue creep

65
Q

Latent nerve root pain

A

Movement has produced an acute and temporary neuropraxia

66
Q

IVD’s make up how much of the length of the vertebral column

A

20-25%

67
Q

Lumbar resting position

A

Between flexion and extension

68
Q

Lumbar close packed position

A

Full extension

69
Q

If lumbar lesion is medial to nerve root:

A

Patient may list to same side as lesion

Demonstrate pain during SLR of unaffected leg

70
Q

Most important signs of disc herniation

A

History
Decreased ROM
Neuro dynamic tests