Spine Exam

Question 1

Remember your spine history

Answer 1

! Pain history including stiffness ! Bone pain history – red flags
! Long tract symptoms
! Nerve root irritation ◦ Referred pain
◦ Worse on coughing or sneezing ◦ Positional
! Cauda equina symptoms

Question 2

breaking examination into:

Answer 2

◦ Cervical
◦ Thoracic
◦ Lumbar examination

Question 3

Bony landmarks include:

Answer 3

From behind:
! Bone – spinous processes/ can you identify these in the C spine
! Posterior iliac spine, dimples of Venus (SIJs) in L spine examination

Question 4

Neurological examination

Answer 4

! In year 1, we introduce the concept of brief neurological examination in C and L spine examination. We are only interested in the peripheral nervous system in yr 1 (lower motor neurone)

! This covers:
Power
Sensation

Question 5

Neurology: test for sciatic nerve irritation

Answer 5

sciatic stretch test

Question 6

test for femoral nerve irritation

Answer 6

femoral stretch test

Question 7

Testing sensation

Answer 7

! Either use a neurotip or cotton wool in year 1
! Ensure you check sufficient areas of the skin so no dermatomes are missed