Spine, Neck and Shoulder Flashcards
Name one of the most common reasons for ill health resulting in time off work.
back pain
What are the vast majority of cases of back pain?
mechanical
What can back pain be related to?
obesity
lack of physical activity
early osteoarthritis (spondylosis)
What make mechanical back pain better and worse?
better with rest, worse on movement
What is spondylosis?
where intervertebral discts lose water content with age, leading to less cushioining and increased pressure on fact joints
What can spondylosis lead to?
secondary OA
Is bed rest advised in mechanical back pain?
no - can lead to stiffness/spasm
Do patients with mechanical back pain benefit from surgery?
Yes some, but not normally done
What type of surgery is done in mechanical back pain?
spinal stabilization
What type of tear causing back pain typically occurs after lifting a heavy object (eg lawnmower)?
acute disc tear in out annulus fibrosis
What is pain like in acute disc tear?
worse on coughing (this increases disc pressure)
Mainstay of treatment for acute disc tear?
physio, analgesia
normally resolves in 2-3 months
What is sciatica?
Disc tear occurs, gelatinous nucleus pulposis herniates through tear, impinging on nerve root
Treatment of sciatica?
analgesia, maintaining mobility, physio, occasionally drugs for neuropathic pain eg Gabapentin
What can be done surgically in bony root entrapment caused by OA of the facet joints?
surgical decompression
What is the condition called when in spondylosis, the lumbar spine has less space?
spinal stenosis
How old are sufferers in spinal stenosis?
tend to be over 60
WHow does spinal stenosis present?
claudication (pain in legs on walking) which is inconsistent
burning pain (rather than cramping)
pain less severe walking up hill
What happens to pedal pulses in spinal stenosis?
are preserved
What can happen in severe osteoporosis leading to acute pain and kyphosis?
spontaneous crush fractures of vertebral body
Treatment for osteoporotic crush fractures?
conservative although sometimes balloon vertebroplasty
What is cauda equine syndrome?
very large central disc prolapse can compress all nerve roots of cauda equina
Is cauda equine a surgical emergency?
Yes
Describe the signs and symptoms of cauda equina syndrome.
Bilateral leg pain
Paraesthesiae/numbness
Saddle anaesthesia (numbness around sitting area and perineum)
Urinary retention most common or can be incontinence
What is a mandatory examination for cauda equina?
PR exam
What investigations should be done for cauda equina?
urgent MRI