Spine

Question 1

Unique feature of cervical vertebrae

Answer 1

foramina for vertebral artery

Question 2

radiographic landmarks in C spine

Answer 2

C2 has distinct body shape C7 has prominent spinous process

Question 3

Most mobile segment of spine

Answer 3

cervical

Question 4

O-C1 - 50% _______ C1-C2 - 50% _______

Answer 4

Flexion/extension rotation

Question 5

extremely rigid part of the spine

Answer 5

thoracic

Question 6

largest vertebra

Answer 6

lumbar spine

Question 7

large space between laminae helpful for

Answer 7

access for procedures like lumbar puncture, epidural placement, etc

Question 8

sagittal joints allow for

Answer 8

anterior/posterior translation or listhesis

Question 9

Answer 9

Question 10

reasons for spine imaging

Answer 10

fracture

tumor

infection

Question 11

in young women, Gonadal radiation from 2 views of L-spine equal to getting_____

Answer 11

daily CXR for 1 year

Question 12

Vertebral column is more susceptible to injury at

Answer 12

areas of transition

-

curve transition (kyphosis to lordosis)

Stability transition (rigid to flexible)

Example: T12/L1 burst fractures

Question 13

Older, osteopenic/osteoporotic individuals will be susceptible to vertebral injury from

Answer 13

lower-energy mechanisms

Question 14

C6-C7 disk herniation

Answer 14

• affects exiting C7 nerve
• weakness in tricpes
• reflex changes in triceps

Question 15

L4-L5 disk herniation

Answer 15

• affects traversing L5 nerve,
• motor - EHL
• Sensory - 1st dorsal web space
• Reflex - none

Question 16

cauda equina syndrome caused by

Answer 16

• space occupying lesions
• large central disk herniation, tumor, hematoma, abscess, etc

Question 17

neurologic condition resulting from acute impingement on nerve roots

Answer 17

cauda equina syndrome

Question 18

cauda equina syndrome treatment

Answer 18

needs immergent intervention - surgical decompressoin

Question 19

symtoms of cauda equina syndrome

Answer 19

• urinary retention (difficulty in initiation)
• back pain
• radicular symptoms (often bilateral, can be unilateral)
• sensory changes ( saddle anesthesia)

Question 20

infection often loves this area

Answer 20

disk space

Question 21

tumor often spares this area

Answer 21

disk space

Question 22

Ankylosing sponylitis

Answer 22

sclerosis of SI joints, HLA B27 marker, bamboo spine

Question 23

spinal stenosis

Answer 23

• degenerative decrease in size of spinal canal
• chronic encroachment of space available for nerve roots

Question 24

symptoms of spinal stenosis

Answer 24

• neurogenic claudication
• activity related, often bilateral pain
• progressive
• relieved with spinal forward flexion, pronouced with spinal extension
• some patients have anatomic predisposition based on shape of canal

Question 25

imaging characteristics of spinal stenosis

Answer 25

• loss of disk height
• ligamentum flavum
• facet hypertrophy
• osteophytes

Question 26

treatment for spinal stenosis

Answer 26

non surgical

but surgical decompression for progressive unrelenting pain

Question 27

S1 nerve root reflex

Answer 27

achilles

Question 28

L4 nerve root reflex

Answer 28

quad

Question 29

C5 nerve weakness

C5 sensory changes

C5 reflex changes

Answer 29

• deltoid
• lateral shoulder
• biceps