PRELIMS: Spine Flashcards
Q: How many vertebrae are in each section of the spine?
7 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral (fused)
3-5 coccygeal
Q: What Cobb’s angle is considered normal for scoliosis?
A: Less than 10°
Q: What are the atypical cervical vertebrae?
A: Atlas (C1), Axis (C2), C7
Q: What is Ferguson’s angle, and what does an excessive angle indicate?
A: The lumbosacral angle; excessive lordosis causes a protruding abdomen
Q: What is the normal kyphosis range?
A: 20-50°
Q: Where does the spinal cord end in adults?
A: L1-L2
Q: What is the most common cervical disorder?
A: Cervical strain and sprain
Q: What is cervical radiculopathy?
A: Nerve root compression causing sensory, motor, and reflex abnormalities
Q: What is the function of intervertebral discs?
A: Shock absorption and spinal flexibility
Q: What is Klippel-Feil Syndrome?
A: Congenital fusion of cervical vertebrae, associated with a short neck and limited movement
Q: What is the difference between Scheuermann’s disease and congenital kyphosis?
Scheuermann’s Disease: Developmental disorder of vertebral endplates with Schmorl’s nodes
Congenital Kyphosis: Failure of segmentation or formation of vertebrae
Q: What injury is commonly associated with cervical strain and sprain?
A: Whiplash injury
🃏 Q: What are the main causes of mechanical low back pain (LBP)?
✅ A: Biomechanical abnormalities, segmental instability, muscular imbalances, psychosocial factors (depression, anxiety), lumbar spondylosis, and disc degeneration.
Q: What special tests can differentiate causes of LBP?
FABER/Patrick’s test → Hip involvement
Kidney punch test → Kidney pathology
SLR/Slump test → Sciatic nerve involvement
🃏 Q: What are the characteristics of lumbar spondylosis?
✅ A: It involves disc degeneration, decreased intervertebral joint space, axial loading on zygapophyseal joints, and referred pain to the buttocks and legs.
🃏 Q: What are the three columns in Denis’ three-column concept of lumbar fractures?
Anterior column: ALL, anterior half of vertebral body & disc
Middle column: PLL, posterior half of vertebral body & disc
Posterior column: Bony and soft tissue structures
🃏 Q: What is the most common cancer type that metastasizes to the spine?
✅ A: Lung, breast, prostate, and renal cell carcinoma.
🃏 Q: What type of lumbar fractures usually do not cause neurological deficits?
✅ A: Anterior column (compression) fractures.
Q: What are the three main categories of LBP?
Potentially Serious Spinal Conditions (e.g., tumor, infection, fracture)
Nerve Root Pain/Radicular Pain
Non-Specific Back Symptoms (mechanical LBP)
Q: What are symptoms of whiplash?
Neck pain/stiffNeck pain/stiffness (60-95%)
Headaches, dizziness, tinnitus
Shoulder and extremity pain
Difficulty swallowing/chewing
ness (60-95%)
Headaches, dizziness, tinnitus
Shoulder and extremity pain
Difficulty swallowing/chewing
A: Congenital fusion of cervical vertebrae, associated with a short neck and limited movement
A: Inflammation of costal cartilage, often confused with cardiac or lung conditions
Q: What is the difference between spondylosis, spondylolysis, and spondylolisthesis?
Spondylosis: Degeneration of the spine
Spondylolysis: Pars interarticularis defect (stress fracture)
Spondylolisthesis: Forward slipping of a vertebra
🃏 Q: What are the common types of spinal braces?
Knight-Taylor
Jewett
SOMI
Halo
🃏 Q: What type of fractures are associated with seatbelt injuries?
✅ A: Chance fractures (flexion-distraction injuries).
🃏 Q: What are the key features of ankylosing spondylitis?
3x more common in men
Symptoms begin in late teens or 20s
Morning stiffness and dull low back/buttock pain
(+) HLA-B27 in 90%
Bamboo spine on imaging
Diagnosed using Schober’s test
🃏 Q: What is the Meyerding Classification for spondylolisthesis?
Grade 1: <25% slip
Grade 2: 25-49% slip
Grade 3: 50-74% slip
Grade 4: 75-99% slip
Grade 5: >100% slip (spondyloptosis)
🃏 Q: What is the Inverted Napoleon Sign?
✅ A: A clinical sign indicative of spondylolisthesis.
🃏 Q: What is the hallmark symptom of lumbar canal stenosis?
✅ A: Neurogenic claudication (bilateral leg pain with standing/walking, relieved by sitting/bending forward).
🃏 Q: What are the most commonly affected nerve roots in lumbar radiculopathy?
✅ A: L5 and S1 (usually due to disc herniation at L4-L5 or L5-S1).
🃏 Q: What is Cauda Equina Syndrome, and why is it a surgical emergency?
✅ A: Compression of the lowest sacral nerve roots, causing bowel/bladder dysfunction, saddle anesthesia, and sexual dysfunction. Requires decompressive surgery within 48 hours.
🃏 Q: Name some effective lumbar stabilization exercises.
✅ A: Curl-ups, leg lifts, bridging, oblique strengthening.
🃏 Q: What is the purpose of lumbar stabilization exercises?
✅ A: Strengthening core muscles, reducing recurrence risk, and preventing chronic pain.
🃏 Q: What types of medications are used for LBP management?
✅ A: NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, opioids, anticonvulsants, topical lidocaine.
