Neck Injuries and Conditions

Question 1

Prevention

Answer 1

• strong neck muscles
• don’t use head as a weapon
• state of rediness
• full ROM to prevent injury

Question 2

Assessment

Answer 2

• MOI
• grip test
• pain in your neck?
• numbness and tingling
• move ankles and toes

Question 3

Signs that preclude return to activity

Answer 3

• neck pain with pasive, active or resisted movement
• tingling or burning in neck, shoulder, arm
• neck motion that causes paresthesia or hypoestesia
• muscle weakness in extremities

Question 4

Cervical fractures

Answer 4

• generally an axial load with a little flexion

- point tenderness, restricted motion, muscle spasm, pain in chest and extremities

Question 5

Management

Answer 5

• stabilization, collared and spine boarded

Question 6

Cervical Dislocation

Answer 6

• usually the result of violent flexion and rotation of the head
• head tilted toward the dislocated side with extreme muscle tightness on the elongated side
• more likely to cause spinal cord injury

Question 7

Acute Strains of the Neck and Upper Back

Answer 7

• sudden turn of the head, forced flexion, extension, or rotation
• restricted motion
• RICE and application of a cervical collar
• ROM exercises

Question 8

Cervical Sprain (whiplash)

Answer 8

• very slow to heal
• snapping of the neck: anterior or posterior longitudinal ligament
• similar to a strain but symptoms last longer
• tenderness
• rule out fracture or dislocation

Question 9

Cervical Cord and Nerve Root Injuries

Answer 9

• lacerations, hemorrhage, contusion
• cord lesions at or above C3 result in death
• below C4, will allow for some return of nerve root function
• handle with extreme caution to minimize further spinal cord damage

Question 10

Cervical Spine Stenosis

Answer 10

• narrowing of the spinal canal in the cervical region that impinges on the spinal cord
• congenital condition
• sensory and motor deficits occur but generally recover slowly w/in 10-15 minutes
• burning, tingling, motor weakness
• x-ray or MRI

Question 11

Brachial Plexus Neurapraxia

Answer 11

• “burner”
• stretching or compression of brachial plexus
• loss of sensation
• repeated injury can cause neuritis, muscular atrophy
• return to activity once symptoms have returned to normal
• padding to protect neck

Question 12

Cervical Disk Injuries

Answer 12

• herniation that develops from an extruded posterolateral disk fragment or from degeneration of the disk
• MOI = sustained repetitive cervical loading
• pain resisted ROM
• radicular pain in upper exteremities
• rest and immobilization and traction