Cervical Spine Injuries

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Cervical Spine Injuries
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Myotome and Dermatome Testing
Nerve Root Level Sensory Testing Motor Testing Reflex Testing
C1-C2 Front of face Neck flexion N/A
C3 Lateral face and skull Lateral flexion N/a
C4 Supraclavicular Shoulder shrug N/A
C5 Lateral shoulder/upper arm Shoulder abduction Bicipital (musculocutaneous)
C6 Lateral lower arm and hand (thumb and index finger) Elbow flexion and wrist extension Brachialradial (musculocutaneous)
C7 Palmar aspect of hand middle 3 fingers Elbow extension and wrist flexion Triceps (radial)
C8 Medial lower arm and hand Finger flexion and thumb extension N/A
T1 Medial elbow and upper arm Finger abduction N/A
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Cervical Spine Injuries

• Acute injuries typically occur in contact and
  collision sports or car accidents
• Chronic injuries develop from poor postural
  habits, faulty body mechanics, repetitive
  movements, decreased flexibility, and weak
  muscles
• Usually involved multiple structures so
  identifying one source is not possible

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Cervical Strains

• Strain injury to a muscle or tendon
• MOI
• Muscles
• SS

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Acute Torticollis

• Commonly called stiffneck or wryneck
• MOI
• SS

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Cervical Sprain

• Commonly called whiplash
• Sprain injury to a ligament or non-contractile
  tissue
• MOI
• SS

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Spinal Stenosis

• Narrowing of the spinal canal or intervertebral
  foramen
• Usually from degeneration associated
• with aging or can be congenital
• SS
• can be asymptomatic
• Neurological pain
• Increased leg pain with standing that resolves by
  sitting (increases available space in spinal
  canal)
• Can be ipsilateral (foramen) or bilateral (canal)

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Cervical Disk Injuries

• Several types of disc injuries
• Protrusion
• Prolapse -

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Cervical Disk Injuries (cont.)

• Several types of disc injuries
• Extrusion
• Sequestrated -

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Cervical Disk Injuries (cont.)

• MOI
• SS

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Degenerative Disc Disease

• Called cervical spondylosis
• MOI
• SS

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Facet Joint Dysfunction

• Cervical instability
• MOI - from acute trauma (whiplash) or repetitive
  motions
• SS posterior neck pain in paraspinal region,
  pain with A and PROM during extension and
  rotation of the c-spine, clicking or catching
  referred pain but no radicular pain

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Brachial Plexus / Neuropraxia

• Commonly called burners, stingers, pinched nerves
• MOI
• SS -

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Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

• Caused by pressure on the trunks and medial cord
  of the brachial plexus, the subclavian artery, or
  subclavian vein (neurovascular bundle)
• MOI
• SS -