Week 1-2 Unit 1 Flashcards
Describe the Proximal Vertebrobasilar artery
- Originates from aortic arch or common carotid artery: may be compressed by anterior scalene
What are the signs of VBI?
5 D’s
3 N’s
- Dizziness, diplopia, drop attacks, dysphagia, dysarthria,
- nystagmus, nausea, neuro symptoms
Describe Transverse Vertebrobasilar artery
Courses through transverse foramen (C6) to transverse foramen of C2
- Susceptible to osteophytes and subluxations
Describe the Suboccipital part of the Vertebrobasilar Artery
Sigmoid path; runs from exit at C2 to foramen magnum : cranio-cervical motion can affect vascular structure ; broken down into different portions :
- Within transverse foramen of C2
- Between C2 and C1
- Foramen magnum
- between atlas and foramen magnum (upper portion); Superficial, covered by traps, semispinalis capitits, rectus capitis; vulnerable to direct blunt trauma
C-T Junction
C6-T1
- First rib and second rib
- Important because junction points in the spine we are more susceptible to injury
- 1st and 2nd rib attach to T1 and T2
- 1st rib and thoracic outlet has a complex of nerves and vasculature in the region and can become compromised
C1 vertebrae
Atlas
- no vertebral body or spinous process
- widest cervical vertebra
- lateral masses connect to occipital condyles
- posterior arch has groove for vertebral arteries
C2 Vertebrae
Axis
- strongest cervical vertebra
- large superior facets connect to C1
- large bifid spinous processes
- dens : pivot for C1 an head to rotate
Atlanto Occipital
- Atlas + occipital condyles
- capital flexion and extension
- capital side bending
- synovial thin and loose capsule
Atlanto Axial
- 2 lateral facets connect to C1
Median joint: dens connect atlas - pivot joint
- rotation : cranium and C1 rotate on C2 as a unit
Transverse Ligament
- Holds dens against atlas
- prevents dens from pressing posterior against spinal cord
- prevents Atlas from Slipping forward and compressing spinal cord via posterior arch
- If ligament breaks Dens would move backward into spinal cord or atlas would translate forward which would pill posterior arch against spinal cord
Alar Ligament
- Sides of Dens to foramen magnum
- Check ligaments to limit rotation
Anterior Longitudinal Ligament
- Atlantoaxial ligament/ Atlanto-occipital ligament
- Anterior vertebral bodies
- Prevents hyperextension
Posterior Longitudinal Ligament
- posterior vertebral bodies
- resists hyperflexion
- prevents and redirects posterior disc herniation
Sternocleidomastoid OIIA
O= lateral surface of mastoid process of temporal l bon and lateral half of superior nuchal line
I= Sternal Head: anterior surface of manubrium of sternum
Clavicular head: Superior surface of medial third of clavicle
I= Spinal accessory nerve 11 : C3/C4
A=
Unilateral contraction= tilts head same side
Bilateral contraction= extends neck/ flexes head
Rectus capitis Anterior OIIA
O= Base of cranium just anterior to occipital condyle
I= Anterior surface of lateral mass of atlas
I= branches from looop between C1 and C2 spinal nerves
A= flex head
Anterior scalene OIIA
O= Transverse processes of C3-C6
I= first rib
I= cervical spinal nerves C4-C6
A= flexes neck laterally: elevates 1st rib during forced inspiration
Cervical Arthrokinematics : Opening and Closing
Opening:
- Flexion
- Contralateral Flexion ( side bend away)
- Contralateral Rotation (rotate away)
Closing:
- Extension
- Ipsilateral Flexion ( side bend toward)
- Ipsilateral Rotation (Rotate Toward)
Coupled Motions
Neck Pain: Prevalence and Risk Factors
- Recurrence rates and chronicity are high
- Female
- Females in their 50’s
- High job demands
- Smoking history
- Low social/work support
- ## LBP history
Prognostic Indicators of Neck Pain
- high pain
- self reported self-disability
- High Pain Catastrophizing
- High Acute PTS
- Cold Hyperalgesia
- Prior Health: Exercise, neck pain, sick leave
- Age
- Other MSK conditions
Clinical Course of Neck pain
- Most rapid recovery in 6-12 weeks
- Little recovery after 12 months
- Chronic : stable, fluctuating or recurrent
Canadian Cervical Spine Rule (CCR)
Low Risk
Low Risk - Acute imaging not required
1. Able to sit in the ED, or
2. Simple rear-end MVA or
3. Ambulatory at any time or
4. Had delayed onset of neck pain or
5. Do not have midline spine tenderness
6. And are able to rotate head 45 degrees each direction
Canadian Cervical Spine Rule (CCR)
High Risk
- NEED IMAGING
1. >65 years or
2. dangerous MOI or
3. Have parathesis in extremities
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency VBI
- Damage and occlusion VBA
- MOI: traumatic cervical hyperextension with or without rotation, cervical side flexion
- There may be no complaint of vascular symptoms prior to an infarction except with specific movements
- Potentially life threatening
VBI Causes/ Risk Factors
- Atherosclerotic involvement
- Sickle cell diseases
- RA
- Arterial fibroplasias
- Arteriovenous fistula
- Other congenital syndromes