red flags cervical spine

Question 1

what segmental level of cevical spine is the most frequent disturbance to vertebral artery flow?

Answer 1

C1-2

Question 2

what is cervical artery dysfunction?

Answer 2

-refers to abnormalities or diseases affecting the arteries supplying the brain including vertebral arteries and internal carotid arteries

Question 3

what can cause cervical artery dysfunction?

Answer 3

-extension and rotation can compromise a vertebral artery
-cervical osteophytes can compromise a vertebral artery
-upper cervical instability

Question 4

in terms of what questions to ask if we suspect cervical artery dysfunction etc?

Answer 4

-5D’s - dizziness, diplopia, dysphagia, dysarthria, drop attacks (someone moves their head and neck and just drops without LOS)
3Ns - nystagmus, nausea or vomiting or numbness

Question 5

what is artery dissection ?

Answer 5

occurs when a tea forms in the inner layer of the artery

Question 6

what are the types of artery dissection with the neck?

Answer 6

cervical artery dissection
vertebral artery dissection

Question 7

what might we find subjectively with cervical artery dysfunction?

Answer 7

• patient under 55 years old
  -acute onset unilateral unfamiliar neck pain
  -current or past history of migraine
  -spontaneous onset of pain related to sudden neck movements
  -recent RTI within last 7/7
  -recent unfamiliar neuro symptoms - 5Ds + 3Ns
  -history of HTN and other CV risk factors