Cervical Spine Region: Identifying Serious Causes of Pain

What is a symptom that could indicate myelopathy or spinal cord compromise in the cervical spine region?

What is a question a healthcare professional might ask to assess for cervical arterial dysfunction?

What is a symptom of vertebral and basilar insufficiency?

What is a physical exam test used to assess for vertebral and basilar insufficiency?

What is a risk factor for upper cervical instability?

What is a symptom of thoracic spine pain?

What is a question a healthcare professional might ask to assess for thoracic spine pain?

What is a risk factor for serious spinal pain in the thoracic spine region?

What is a characteristic of visceral pain?

What is a risk factor for heart disease?

What is a symptom of Cauda Equina syndrome?

What is a common cause of serious spinal pain?

What is a characteristic of autonomic alterations?

What is a question to ask a patient with suspected Cauda Equina syndrome?

What is a type of visceral pain related to the abdominal organs?

What is a symptom of Pneumothorax?

Common CERVICAL Spine Region - Serious Causes of Pain

Myelopathy/spinal cord compromise: weak UL/LL, paraesthesia, hyperreflexia, clumsiness in hands, gait disturbances, and balance issues
Cervical arterial dysfunction: coronary artery dissection (CAD), vertebral-basilar insufficiency (VBI), and stroke
VBI-5D's and 3Ns: dizziness, dysphagia, dysarthria, drop attack, diplopia, numbness (facial), nystagmus, and nausea
Upper cervical instability: trauma, history of autoimmune inflammatory spinal arthropathy, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Down's and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, recent surgery, and recent upper respiratory tract infection

Common THORACIC Spine Region - Serious Spinal Pain

Alerting feature: myocardial ischemia and infarction, chest pain, nausea, risk factors for heart disease, and symptoms that are worse with exertion
Rib fracture: trauma, pain with breathing and coughing, hearing a crack, and bruising on the skin (ecchymosis)
Pneumothorax: trauma, shortness of breath, sharp stabbing sudden chest pain, and rapid breathing
Visceral: stomach, small intestine, pancreas, gallbladder, and liver

Common LUMBAR Spine Region - Causes of Serious Spinal Pain

Cauda Equina syndrome: early bilateral alternating radiculopathy, leg pain, subjective sphincteric problems, perineal/saddle sensory change, and late altered bladder and bowel function
Visceral: kidney stones, pancreatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease

This quiz covers the alerting features and verbal cues to identify serious causes of pain in the cervical spine region, including myelopathy, spinal cord compromise, and other neurological symptoms. Test your knowledge on recognizing the red flags and symptoms that require urgent attention.