Week 3 - Spine Flashcards
name the 3 erector spinae muscles
ileo….
longissiumus…….
spinalis….
Ileocostalis
Longissimus thoracis
Spinalis thoracis.
5 cancers that mets to the spine
breast bronchus prostate thyroid kidneys
what causes congenital scolisis?
imbalanced number of growth plates
what is spondylolysis?
Defect or stress fracture in the pars interarticularis of the vertebral arch.
Most in lower lumbar vertebrae but may occur in the cervical vertebrae
treatment of severe neuropathic pain in a sciatica / lumbar radiculopathy?
firstly analgesia then…
gabapentin
rarely - discectomy
what can cause acute pain and kyphosis in a patient with spinal osteoporosis?
an osteoporotic crush fracture
can be conservative Tx or balloon valvoplasty
what would cervical spinal osteophytes cause?
radiculopathy of the upper limb dermatomes / myotomes. may need decopression
“shooting nerve pain in an upper dermatome with neck pain” - could be?
a cervical disc prolapse
significance of phalens test?
hyper flexion of wrists decreases space in the carpal tunnel
conservative Tx of carpal tunnel?
night splints
corticosteroid injections
what is spondylosis?
loss of water content in discs –> increased pressure leads to OA.
2 urgent tasks if suspect Cauda equina, then action =
- PR exam
- urgent MRI
- urgent discectomy
“pain worse on coughing” is classically what?
acute disc tear (discogenic back pain)
treatment of sciatica
1st line =
2nd line =
unresolving =
- analgesia
- Gabapentin (if severe leg pain)
unresolving = discectomy
describe symptoms of vascular claudication..
- burning pain
- less pain walking up hill
inconsistent distance of claudication occurring, also preserved pedal pulses
