Lumbar Prolapsed Disc Flashcards
Findings on examination for LPD
- SLR +ve - 30-70 degrees usually
- Reduce ROM lumbar spine due to paraspinal spasm
- Myotome weakness -if neurological component
- Dermatome parasthesia - if neurological component
Mytomes and actions which will be affected
- L3 - hip adduction (or hip flexion)
- L4 - knee extension (knee reflex affected)
- L5 - ankle dorsiflex
- S1 - plantarflex foot (ankle reflex affected)
But these vary between passmed and teaach me anatomy so
Cause of prolapse disc
- Same as degenerative disc disease card
- Disc dehydration
- = tears in annulus fibrosus
- = herniation of nucleus pulposus
- = compression of spinal nerve (traversing in lumbar, exiting in cervical but both will be second disc mentioned eg C5-C6 disc compresses C7 and L5-S1 disc compresses S1)
- Then fibrosis and ostephyte formation
Progression of LPD
- Initially localised back pain
- Then radicular pain and parasthesia
- Stiffness, worsening muscle tenderness
- Reduced ROM
When to investigate prolapsed disc?
Same as degen disc disease:
* Any red flags
* Radiculopathy >6 weeks
* SCC evidence
* Imaging will significantly alter management
Most patients with mild do not need imaging
Management of prolapsed disc
As long as no red flags present:
* Simple analgesics and then neuropathic analgesics if needed (eg gabapentin, amytriptyline)
* Encourage mobility
* Physio
* If pain >3 months refer to pain clinic
If all this fails:
* Surgery decompression - laminectomy + microdiscectomy
* Spinal fusion if spinal instability
Imaging for spine
- MRI gold standard for soft tissue things
- CT used to assess bone +/- osteoporosis
- X-ray only if recent significant trauma, known OP or older than 70