Neck UE exam (Pitcher) Flashcards
Common causes of hoarseness
Acute infection Smoking Tumors Thyroid Enlargement Damage to the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
Common causes of enlarged lymph nodes
metastatic cancer
lymphoma
infection
common causes of enlarged thyroid
goiter
thyroid cancer
common causes of neck/ arm pain
central or peripheral nerve impingement
torticollis
lymphadenopathy
thyroiditis
Common Neck Conditions
Somatic dysfunction
Muscle sprain or spasm
Torticollis- Sternocleidomastoid spasm causes ipsilateral sidebending and contralateral rotation
Thoracic outlet syndrome
Disc herniation- often causes nerve root impingement
Spondylolisthesis- forward displacement of one of the vertebra may compress the spinal cord
Osteoarthritis- chronic degenerative arthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis- spinal inflammatory degenerative arthritis that causes vertebral fusion
Vertebral fracture- caused by trauma, osteoporosis, malignancy,
TMJ
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ): May radiate pain to neck region
Palpate at rest then during slow opening and closing of mouth
Crepitus, clicks, clunk, locking or fear of locking
Anterior neck triangle borders
Superior-Mandible
Medial-Midline of the Neck
Lateral-Sternocleidomastoid muscle
Posterior neck triangle borders
Inferior-Clavicle
Posterior-Trapezius Muscle
Anterior-Sternocleidomastoid Muscle
Cervical Triangles: Mass Differential
Preauricular and angle of jaw: salivary gland or parotid
Posterior triangle: high index of suspicion for malignancy
Supraclavicular (esp left): suggest malignancy.
Anterior triangle: enlarged LN, branchial cleft cyst
Central: thyroid or malignant origin, dermoid cyst, thyroglossal duct cyst
Cervical lymphatic drainage
Most lymphatic drainage is into the deep system
Deep nodes are deep to sternocleidomastoid muscle and normally not palpable except the supraclavicular node when enlarged
Virchow’s Node-palpable left sided supraclavicular node suggests thoracic or abdominal malignancies
Right sided enlarged supraclavicular lymph node suggests malignancy of mediastinum, lungs or esophagus
Goiter
Often grow slowly, may be due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or iodine deficiency, be asymptomatic , can cause some obstructive symptoms (most usual is exertional dyspnea, then cough)if large enough. Evaluation includes the search for nodules and cellular exam if found. Other causes are Graves, benign multinodular goiter, cancer
Thyroglossal duct cyst
Congenital epithelial remnant of the thyroglossal tract that forms a cyst due to an unknown stimulus. May contain thyroid cancerous cells.
Branchial Cleft Cyst
Typically near mandibular angle and anterior to SCM
Benign but get infected, typically removed
Structural Neck Exam. Inspection: Posture
Position of the head and trunk in 2 positions
Nose Midline
Laterally- Ear in line with the shoulder, greater trochanter, fibular head, and lateral malleolus
Spinal curves –
front to back
side to side
Structural Neck Exam: Palpation
Lymph nodes Range of motion Thyroid Clavicle, upper ribs TART - Spinous processes - Paraspinal musculature - Transverse Processes
Structural neck exam: range of motion- active and passive
Flexion- 45°
Extension- 60°
Rotation- 80°
Side bending- 45°
Range of neck motion and muscles involved
Flexion- anterior neck muscles
Extension- posterior neck muscles
Rotation- trapezius, scalene, sternocleidomastoid (SCM), splenius, longissimus, semispinalis, and obliqus capitis
Side bending- trapezius, scalene, SCM, splenius, longissimus, semispinalis, obliqus, longus and rectus capitis
Radiculopathy
Radiculopathy: Central is true dermatomal
Screen with sensory exam and deep tendon reflexes bilaterally
Cervical Foraminal Compression Test
(Spurling’s maneuver)
Side bending to the affected side with compression down along the spinal axis- produces radicular symptoms
Maximum cervical compression test
Add extension and rotation to the same side as the head is side bent
Distraction Test
Used to alleviate radicular symptoms and support a diagnosis of radiculopathy.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Occurs when there is compression of vessels and nerves in the area of the clavicle.
Anomalous cervical rib
Tight fibrous band that connects the spinal vertebra to the rib
Muscle anomalies: variable insertion points
Injury: whiplash, repetitive motion (working overhead)
Symptoms include:
pain in the neck and shoulders
numbness in the last 3 fingers and forearm.
Thoracic outlet syndrome is usually treated with physical therapy which helps restore the gap
Roo’s Test
(for thoracic outlet syndrome)
Arms abducted to 90°, externally rotated
Elbows flexed at 90°
Patient slowly opens and closes his hands for 3 minutes.
If there is weakness, numbness or tingling of the hand or arm the test is positive.
Adson’s Test
Palpate the radial pulse with the elbow and shoulder in extension
Continue to palpate pulse and move the arm the arm into abduction and external rotation and flex elbow.
Have the patient turn their head away from the side being tested.
If the pulse diminishes then the test is positive for thoracic outlet syndrome.
Common causes of upper extremity trouble
Injury - Contusions - Fractures - Tendon or ligament tears - Repetitive use tendonitis bursitis Muscular Disorders - Muscular dystrophy - Rabdomyolysis Bone and Joint Disorders - Arthritis- osteo or rheumatoid
Shoulder joint types
Acromioclavicular: Synovial condylar Glenohumeral Synovial spheroidal type Labral ring Rotator cuff
Rotator Cuff Muscles
Supraspinatus
Infraspinatus
Teres minor
Subscapularis
Shoulder Exam Inspection and Palpation
Acromioclavicular Joint
Glenohumeral joint
- Arm extension exposes sub acromial structures
Scapula
- Winging of the scapula- Long thoracic nerve injury causing a weak serratus anterior muscle
Humerus