T-Spine and Ribs Examination Flashcards
INTRO
INTRO
What is the order of the differential diagnosis?
- ) Patient Interview/ Chart Review
- ) Visual Inspection
- ) Systems Review
- ) Elimination Tests
- ) Structural Stress Testing
- ) Joint Mobility and Palpations
- ) Confirmation tests
What are some special considerations done during the patient interview?
- Pain referral from cardiopulmonary/hepatobiliary/gall bladder/esophageal/renal systems
- Fracture (rib vs. vertebra)
- Neoplasm
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Screening for other non-musculoskeletal health condition or musculoskeletal condition where referral is indicated
What are some common functional limitations related to the T-spine and Rib Dysfunction?
- Reaching behind body
- Reaching overhead
- Pushing/pulling
- Lifting
- Respiration/Exertion
- What is the Roman’s Cluster for?
- What are the 5 components of it?
Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture (OVCF)
- Age >52
- No presence of leg pain
- BMI = 22
- Does not exercise regularly
- Female
- If <2 Roman Cluster items are positive, is it good for elimination or confirmation?
- If 4/5 Roman Cluster items are positive, is it food for elimination or confirmation?
- Elimination (-LR 0.16)
- Confirmation (+LR 9.6)
- With Imaging, the angle of kyphosis is done via the _________ _____ method.
- Perpendicular extensions of lines drawn from superior border of T_ and inferior border of T_.
- Cobb method is also used with an anterior view to measure _________ curvature.
- Traditional Cobb
- superior T4, inferior T9
- scoliotic
VISUAL INSPECTION
VISUAL INSPECTION
What are we looking at with our visual inspection?
- Sitting vs Standing
- Gross abnormalities
- Integumentary
- Resting posture vs ability to correct
- Posture assessment (symmetry, bony/soft contours)
When performing a visual inspection we want to look at views from appropriate planes (Anterior, Posterior, Each SIde) and assess posture of what areas?
- Head on neck
- Neck on thorax
- Thoracolumbar curvature
- Trunk on pelvis
- Scapulae on thorax
- Mandible on cranium
What are some abnormalities we may see in our visual inspection?
- Dowager’s Hump
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Scheuermann’s Disease
- Pectus Carinatum
- Barrel Chest
- Pectus Excavatum
What is Dowager’s Hump?
- Increased thoracic curvature apex associated with osteoporotic fractures and wedging that can occur with increased age.
- Cannot address structural changes.
What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Chin on chest position involving thoracolumbar flexion and straightening of cervical lordosis due to ossification of anterior structures.
What is Scheuermann’s Disease?
Accentuated thoracic kyphosis, forward head posture, anteriorly rotated pelvis, extended hips, excessive lumbar lordosis related to wedging of vertebrae as a function of malnutrition and injury to disc plates.
What is Pectus Carinatum?
Bird Chest (convex) anteriorly
What is Pectus Excavatum?
Concave sternum
What is Barrel Chest?
Increased anterior-posterior diameter at rest, common in patients with COPD/CF.
What is the upper cross sign?
Forward head and rounded shoulders leading to:
- Inhibited Neck Flexors
- Inhibited Rhomboids and Serratus Anterior
- Tight Pectorals
- Tight UT and Levator Scap
What is a systems review helpful for?
- Procedures that help aid in determining any other procedures that are necessary.
- Overall look at patient as a whole and seeing if there is anything else to look at.
ELIMINATION TESTS
ELIMINATION TESTS
What screens are done before our special tests?
- UQS
- LQS
- Neuro Screening
- UMN: pathological reflexes, coordination, hyper
- LMN: diminished sensation, weakness, hypo
- Other Screening Tests
With Neurological Screening we want to look at what?
- Dermatomes
- Myotomes
- Long Track Tests
What are some landmarks for dermatomes?
- T1= anteriomedial arm
- T4= nipple level
- T10= umbilicus
What are we trying to eliminate with our elimination tests?
- Fracture
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Scoliosis
What elimination test is done for fracture?
Percussion Test
Percussion Test:
- Health Condition?
- Patient Position?
- Procedure?
- Positive Test?
- Research Properties?
- Clinical Implications?
Health Condition -Compression Fracture Patient Position -Standing Procedure -Lightly percuss along the length of the spine with a closed fist. Positive Test -Pt reports sudden, sharp, severe pain Research Properties Moderate for -LR (.14) Clinical Implications -Use cautiously if fracture is suspected.
What elimination test is done for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome?
Wright Test
Wright Test
- Health Condition?
- Patient Position?
- Examinere Position?
- Procedure?
- Positive Test?
- Research Properties?
- Clinical Implications?
Health Condition
-Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Patient Position
-Sitting
Examiner Position
-Standing behind or to the side on symptomatic side
-Radial pulse on the symptomatic side is palpated throughout the procedure
Procedure
-Pt instructed to abduct the shoulder to 90 degrees and flex the elbows to 90 degrees, and horizontally abduct the shoulders
-The pt rotates the neck to the contralateral direction
-The position is held for 1-2 minutes
Positive Test
-Reproduction of paresthesia or a decrease in radial pulse
Research Properties
-Weak for -LR pulse (0.56), weak for symptom provocation (0.34)
Clinical Implications
-Generally limited research investigating diagnostic properties
What elimination test is done for Scoliosis?
Adam’s Forward Flexion Test
Adam’s Forward Flexion Test:
- Health Condition?
- Patient Position?
- Examinere Position?
- Procedure?
- Positive Test?
- Research Properties?
- Clinical Implications?
Health Condition -Scoliosis Patient Position -Standing Examiner Position -Standing facing the pt Procedure -The pt is instructed to stand with the feet at shoulder-width, place the hands together, and slowly bend forward (reaching toward the floor) Positive Test -Presence of an observable rib hump Research Properties -Moderate for -LR (0.13) Clinical Implications -Generally limited research investigating diagnostic properties
STRUCTURAL STRESS TESTING T-SPINE AND RIBS
STRUCTURAL STRESS TESTING T-SPINE AND RIBS
What are the 3 parts of structural stress testing?
- AROM
- PROM
- Resistive Testing
What 4 things are we looking at when performing structural stress tests?
- Quality
- Quantity
- Symptom Provocation
- Willingness to move