Neuro spine Flashcards
spinal cord blood supply
- anterior spinal artery-arise BL from termination of vertebral arteries –> join at foramen magnum.
- Ant 2/3
- 2 paired pst spinal arteries-from vertebral arteries or PICA; discount and reinforced by multiple segmental or radiculopial branches
- artery of adamkiewicz (great anterior radiculomedullary artery)
- 75% from left side aorta btw T8-T11, supplies lower 2/3
conus medullaris-where does it terminate? When should you think tethered cord?
- Terminates at L1
- inferior endplate L2/L3
differences in epidural fat cervical vs lumbar
cervical-predom venous plexus
-lumbar-fant ant and pst to cord
epidural lipomatosis
HTr of epidural fat in people on CS
Torg-Pavlov ratio
used to assess spinal stenosis
-cervical canal diameter : VB width <0.85
which part of spine is stenosis most symptomatic
cervical
congenital spinal stenosis
usually from short pedicles
degenerative spinal dx-types
1) spondylosis deformans-Normal aging. OPh at rim/margin
2) intervertebral osteochondrosis- centered in disc space: nucleus pulposus & VB EPs
osteophytes vs syndesmophytes
- osteophytes-horz/oblique w/ “claw-like” appearance. formed at vertebral margin. DJD/spondylosis
- syndesmophyte-vertical, symmetric & thinner. Ossification of annulus fibrosis. Seen in ankylosing spondylitis
“high intensity zone” of annulus
- Annular fissure/tear seen on MR.
- fissures are found in all degenerative discs but not all fisursures are visualized as HIZs.
which img is more sensitive than MRI in diagnosis of annular fissure?
discography, still not 100%
schmorl node/intervertebral herniation-what, how common, where, appearance acute vs chronic
- herniation of disc material through defect in VB EP into actual marrow
- v common (75%)
- lower thoracic/upp spine
- acute: T2+ (edema), T1- (sim to OM)
- chronic-sclerotic rim
Scheurermann’s (juvenile kyphosis)-what is it, classic scenario, how many have ass scoliosis?
Multiple levels of wedged VBs with associated schmorl’s nodes –> kyphosis (40˚ in thoracic or 30˚ in TL.)
- thoracic spine of teenager
- 25% ass scoliosis
limbus vertebra
- herniated disc material btw non-fused apophysis of adj vertebral body
- fracture mimic!
Disc nomenclature-herniation, bulge
Herniation < 25%
Bulge >25%
subtypes disk herniation
- protrusion-base wider
- extrusion-neck narrower than herniation
- sequestrum-broken off
localizing herniation in craniocaudal plane
-disc, suprapedicle, pedicle, infrapedicle
did sal’s pain increase?
localizing herniation in axial plane-which is MC and most syx
central, subarticular (MC), foramina (most syx via rel to dorsal root gang), extraforaminal
-no, he called someone for exedrine
how many pairs of spinal nerves
31
MC loc herniation
90% at L4-L5, L5-S1
conjoined nerve root
- most common developmental anomaly of nerve root
- two n roots arise from single dural sleeve
- app: asymm anterolateral corner of dural sac on axial T1 MRI. N root abscent at one level and duplicated at level below/above
Absolute CI to LP/myelogram
- (+) ICP or obstructed CSF flow
- bleeding diathesis (hypo coagulable)
- I allergy
Relative CI to LP
- vary per institution
1) overlying inf, hematoma, scarring
2) recent myelogram (<1wk)
3) hx of seizures
indication for fluoro guided LP
1) advanced degenerative spondylosis
2) post surgical change
3) obesity
4) MRI contraindicated
Technical overview LP: where to enter, what to target, direction of bevel
- L2/L3 or L3/L4 (Below conus)
- target inter laminar space (just off midline)
- bevel directed opposite direction you’re trying to steer
- always aspirate before injecting
how to know if you’ve done a successful myelogram?
- contrast pooling at needle tip
- subdural injection in fat around thecal sac if pooling posterior lateral
how to reduce post dural puncture headache
small needle (25G, 22G if dx LP)
- diamond shaped needle tip (non-cutting, atraumatic)
- replace stylet before withdrawing
- bevel parallel with fibers to push (not cut)
post dural puncture headache (PDPH)-what, better/worse, time frame, mx
- intracranial hypotension secondary to defect in thecae sac s/p P
- BL, better laying down, worse sitting up or with straining
- 24-48hrs (larger leaks earlier)
- mx- conservative –> blood patch 72 hrs.
- super severe –> ct head (r/o SDH)
blood patch
inject 3-20cc of pts own blood into epidural space near original puncture site
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
recurrent or residual LBP after disk surgery.
40%
complications of spine surgery
1) recurrent residual disk- no enhancement
2) epidural fibrosis-posterior, enhance homogeneously on delayed img
3) arachnoiditis- >6wk=abN
“clumped n roots”, “empty thecae sac”
arachnoiditis
post spinal surgery scar vs residual disc
both look like a bunch of mushy crap
- scar homogenous enhances delayed
- residual disc-no enh
Odontoid fracture types-which is most common? At risk of non-union? Best prognosis? Which are unstable?
1) upper part 2/2 avulsion alar ligament. Rare
2) most common. fx at base. High non-union rate. unstable.
3) dens–> body of C2. best prognosis for healing. Unstable
how many people with Jefferson fx have ass C2 fx
30%
Jefferson fracture- MOA, app, neuro dam?
- axial loading injury
- ant and pst arches blown out laterally –> widening lateral masses-increased distance btw masses and dens
- minimal cord dam
os terminale
apophysis at orthotropic aspect of dens
os odontoideum
os terminale + hypoplastic dens. Ass with Morquio’s syndrome.
dystopic os terminale/odontoideum
fused to clivus
hangman fx-moa, app, neuro damage, associated injuries
- chin hits dashboard
- BL pars defect at C2 (or pedicle, less likely –> ass ant subluxation C2 (>2mm)
- cord damage uncommon (pars defect widens canal)
- ass: avulsion ALL –> fx anterior inferior corner of C2
flexion teardrop-moa, appearance, neuro dam
- hyperflexion. impaction injury. “ran into a wall”
- ant inferior body fracture –> pst sublux –> anterior cord syndrome (85% neuro defects)
extension teardrop
- hyperextension, distraction injury, “hit from behind”
- avulsion ALL –> ant/inf body fracture
- more stable (stable in flexion, unstable in extension)
clay shoveler’s fracture-moa, app, associated sign
- avulsion lower cervical/upper thoracic SP (C7 MC)
- forceful hyperflexion
- “ghost sign”-caudal displacement of broken SP –> double sinus process at level above on AP radiograph