Imaging lumbar spine - exam 3 Flashcards
(38 cards)
Who should get imagining with low back P!
> 50 yrs. of age w/ hx of cancer
saddle parathesis
bowel and bladder dysfunction
specific neurological deficits (spinal m. brain, spinal cord)
progressive/disabbling symptoms
no improvement after 6 wks. of conservative Rx
Imaging does improve outcomes? T or F
False; DOES NOT
Black:
Gray:
White:
Bright white:
Solid white:
Air
Soft tissue
Bone
Dyes
Metal
Viewing -AP and PA projections
—place on the viewer as if the ______________
—exception
–patient were facing you and in an anatomical position
–hands and feet viewed with toes or fingers pointing up
________ view is in the path of the beam
identify at least _____ markers such as _______ and _________
Lateral
2; PHI and side of body
ABCS:
alignment, bone density, cartilage space, soft tissue
misalignment indicated fx/dislocation and possible cord compromise -
alignment
bone density - outer __________ bone brighter white than inner _________ bone
cortical; cancellous
narrowing, sclerosis, growth plates -
cartilage space
Soft tissue:
muscle wasting, capsular distension from swelling
periosteal disruption or rasing
Routine radiographs: (4)
AP
Lateral
Right and Left Oblques
Lateral L5, S1
Normal findings for AP view:
vertically aligned vertebral bodies
preserved intervertebral spaces
midline SPs
—tear drop shaped
—smaller spacing in lower segments
Normal findings for AP view: Articular Processes (2)
—casts a butterfly-shaped shadow on vertebral bodies
—joints not specifically visible but alignment is noted
Normal findings for AP view: Pedicles (2)
oval densities
equidistance from SPs
Normal findings for Lateral view:
_______parallel lines
_______ and ______ border?
vertebral bodies are ________ w/ ______heads
________intervetbral spaces
intervertebral or lateral foramen L5, S1 is the ________
_________observe L5, S1 due to illiac crest
3 parallel lines
ant. vertebral border ; post. vertebral borders
boxed; smooth
perserved
smallest
CAN NOT
Normal findings for lateral view:
Should remain __________ whether the low back is in neutral, flexed, or extended
constant
Normal finding for Lateral L5, S1:
close up of _________junction
normal vertebral alignment by _____ parallel lines
_______disc spaces
lumbosacral
3
well preserved
Normal finding for Lateral L5, S1: WB views
What is Barges Angle -
— _____º average
What is Ferguson’s Angle-
—_____º average
angle between sacral base and vertical line
53º
angle between sacral base and horizontal line
41º
Normal findings for Lateral L5, S1: WB views
Smaller Barges and Larger Fergusons indicates:
more lordosis
greater facets compression, ant. shearing forces and lateral foramen narrowing
Normal findings for Lateral L5, S1: WB views
Larger Barge’s and smaller Fergusons indicates:
less lordosis
greater vertebral body and discal compression
The oblique view is best for picking up: (2)
spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis on radiograph
The normal oblique view you should see what structures
articular processes, facets, pars interarticularis , and pedicles - Scottie Dogs
what are major advantages of CT scan?
less overlap of structures due to slicing
able to locate subtle bone changes
what are major disadvantages of CT scan/
greater radiation exposure
limited with soft tissue abnormalities