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surgery 2: neurosurgery > spinal disorders > Flashcards

spinal disorders Flashcards

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1
Q

what shape does the spine make

A

the spine has three natural curves to make an S - Shape

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2
Q

what do the three natural curves of the spine do?

A

absorb shock and protect the spine from injury

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3
Q

what is the spinal vertebrae and how many are there ?

A

33 vertebrae
the vertebrae of the spine forms the spinal canal; this houses the spinal cord and its nerves and protects them from injury

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4
Q

what are the CARTILAGE spinal joints of the spine called

A

facet joints

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5
Q

function of the facet joints

A

connections between the
bones of the spine

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6
Q

what passes through the facet joints to travel from the spinal cord to other body parts

A

nerve roots

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7
Q

what opening does the nerve root exit from of the spinal cord to reach the body?

A

the spinal canal

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8
Q

what are intervertebral discs?

A

discs between each vertebrae and act as the spine’s shock absorbers.

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9
Q

what are the soft tissues of the spine and what do each of the 3 aid in?

A

soft tissues include ligamenets, muscles and tendons.

Ligaments connect the vertebrae to hold the spine in position.

  • Muscles support the back and help you move.
  • Tendons connect muscles to bone and aid movement.
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10
Q

the spinal vertebrae are split up into 5 segments called ?

A

cervical 1-8
thoracic 1- 12
lumbar 1-5
saccral 1-5
coccygeal 1/2

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11
Q

what is spinal dysraphism

A

congenital spinal disorders affecting the spine, spinal cord, or nerve roots.

dysraphism means = incomplete fusion

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12
Q

spina bifida oculta (hidden/closed)

A
  • mild type
  • small gap in spine
  • due to incomplete bone
    formation during pregnancy.
  • assymptomatic at times, HOWEVER, maybe:
    1. patch of hair or
    2. red mark at the base of spine.
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13
Q

Spina bifida open:
there are two types, which are called ?

A
  1. Meningocele
  2. Myelomeningocele
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14
Q

spinal bifida open: MENINGOCELE

what is meningocele?

A
  • spinal fluid filled sac pushes through gap
  • skin over sac is open
  • spine is in its normal place in the spinal canal
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15
Q

spinal bifida open: mylomeningocele

what is myelomeningocele?

A
  • most severe
  • fluid filled, meninges filled, nerve roots filled sac pushes through the gap in the spine AND THE SKIN
  • visible on the baby’s
    back
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16
Q

types of spinal curve disorders ?

A
  1. lordosis ( normal curvature of spine)
  2. kyphosis
  3. scoliosis
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17
Q

main 2 symptoms of spinal curve disorders ?

A

discomfort and pain

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18
Q

what is lordosis ?

A

Lordosis is a natural curve in the neck
or lower back.

types:
lumbar lordosis
cervical lordosis

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19
Q

what is kyphosis?

A

excessive curvature of the thoracic spine.

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20
Q

an excessive curvature of the thoracic spine ( kyphosis ) can be seen in what condition in young pp’s ?

A

Such problems occur at a young
age with Scheuermann’s disease,
also called Scheuermann’s
kyphosis,

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21
Q

what is scoliosis ?

A

an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine

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22
Q

types of scoliosis ?

A

thoracic scoliosis
lumbar scoliosis
thoraco-lumbar scoliosis
combined scoliosis

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23
Q

causes of scoliosis ?

A

80% - idiopathic
or,
degeneration of the spinal discs
e.g. arthritis, osteoporosis or as
a hereditary condition.

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24
Q

What is Spondylolisthesis

A
  • spine instability
  • vertebrae moves more than they should.
  • A vertebra slips out of place onto the vertebra below.
  • pressure on nerve
  • causing lower back pain or leg pain
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25
symptoms of spondylolisthesis
lower back pain leg pain diffuse weakness ass. with prolonged standing or walking
26
tx of Spondylolisthesis?
surgery: spinal fusion – the slipped vertebra is joined to the bone below with metal rods, screws & bone graft lumbar decompression – a procedure to relieve pressure on the compressed spinal nerves
27
what is spinal arthritis ?
inflammation of facet joints in spine or inflammation of sacroiliac joints between spine and pelvis
28
the most common type of arthritis ?
osteoarthritis
29
what is osteoarthritis?
the cartilage within a joint begins to break down and the underlying bone begins to change.
30
cause of OA
-Joint injury – overusing a joint when it has not had enough time to heal - Secondary causes e.g. gout.
31
what is Ankylosing Spondylitis
- chronic inflammation - inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine
32
signs of ankylosing spondylitis ?
the joints and ligaments help us move and bend. In A.S, after some time, stiffness begins to present itself.
33
pp's with A.S may develop what other disease?
plantar fascilitis causes pain in the heel or arch of the foot.
34
symptoms of AS ?
fever fatigue pain in jaw pain in ribcage when exhaling chronic pain and stiffness of lower back diarrhea bloating pain gets worst with inactivity pain releaves after hot shower uveitis/eye redness psorasis buttock pain plnatar fascilitis
35
AS treatment
NO CURE - exercise, physiotherapy, pain medication
36
what is lumbar spinal stenosis ?
narrowing of the spinal canal in your lower back
37
RF
aging Mostly affecting people above the age of 60.
38
symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis
mostly assymptomatic but lower back pain cramping in one or both legs This happens when you stand for a long time or when you walk. Symptoms get better when you bend forward or sit. Some people also have back pain.
39
dx test
xray ct mri
40
tx
nsaids anti-depressants - help ease chronic pain physical therapy steroids surgery: Laminectomy - This surgery removes the back part (lamina) of the affected spinal bone. This eases pressure on the nerves by making more space around them
41
what is spinal meningitis
infection of the fluid and membranes around the brain and spinal cord.
42
symptoms of spinal meningitis?
- severe headache - photophobia - neck stiffness - red/purple rash - nausea/vomiting - cold hands and feet
43
diagnosis of spinal meningitis ?
lumbar puncture and CSF analysis
44
what is lumbar puncture
CSF sample removal of CSF from L3/L4 to avoid nerve damage to check for infection, inflammation, and other diseases
45
what does CSF analysis show in encephalitis ?
CSF in viral encephalitis shows a lymphocytic pleocytosis with normal glucose and normal or mildly raised protein.
46
what is pott disease?
- tuburculosis of the spine (mostly lower thoracic and lumbar ) - tuberculous arthritis of the intervertebral joints. - due to hematogenous spread from other sites
47
types of disc disorders
1. Disc degeneration disease 2. Disc herniation disease 3. Thinning of the disk disease 4. Bulging disc disease
48
Disc degeneration disease (DDD) - what is it - rf - ass. with what
1. disks start to lose structure and function gradually. 2. aging 3. Also associated with an injury to the back.
49
there are 4 stages of DDD ( disc degeneration disease) what are they?
1- Dysfunction stage- loss of natural curvature. 2- Dehydration stage- degradation becomes more noticeable as discs start thinning. 3- Stabilisation stage- more pain and loss of mobility. 4- Collapsing stage- Most severe and irreversible.
50
disc herniation is?
soft cushion of tissue between the bones in the spine pushes out of place.
51
symptoms of disc herniation
lower back pain neck pain difficulty bending over radiating pain below the knee worst back pain with coughing, valsalva, bending foward can cause cauda equina
52
what are the 4 stages of herniated disc disease?
1. degeneration/bulding 2. protusion / prolapse 3. extrusion 4. sequenstration
53
types of disc herniations (2)
Hansen type I Hansen type II
54
types of spinal truamas ?
Jefferson fracture Odontoid fracture Hangmans fracture Jumped facets Compression fracture Burst fratcure Chance fracture Fracture-dislocation
55
tumors of the spine
Extradural tumours Metastatic tumours Intradural extradural tumours - schwannoma - neurofibroma - Ependymoma - Astrocytoma - other:
56
diagnostic test for both fracture and spinal tumour
xray mri ct angiography Myelography (to determine location) Electromyography and nerve conduction studies.
57
treatment for spinal disorder
eIce or heat therapy for injuries. Injections (such as corticosteroids or nerve blocks) for pain. anti-inflammatories pain relievers muscle relaxers Radiation therapy, radiosurgery, chemotherapy. Type of surgery required varies significantly: Interspinous process devices (IPD). Spinal Fusion. Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery. Arthroplasty/Motion Preserving Surgery. Complex Spinal Reconstruction. Spinal laminectomy/spinal decompression. Discectomy. Foraminotomy. Nucleoplasty, also called plasma disk decompression. Artificial disk replacement Stereotactic radiosurgery Delivery of high dose radiation Affective against cancer, epilepsy, trigeminal neuralgia and arteriovenous malformations.
58
what is spinal stenosis
narrowing of the space within the spine through which nerves travel that can put pressure on the nerves. degenerative diseases older indivudals hypertrophy of facet joints and ligamentum flavum pain increases on acitivity, walking downhill/stairs pain releived when sitting, crouched, leaning foward on a cart
59
what is syringomyleia?
fluid-filled cyst (syrinx) within the spinal cord. Accompanying pain, weakness, loss of reflexes, stiffness Chiari malformation. Other causes include spinal cord tumors, injuries and damage caused by inflammation around your spinal cord.
60
what is Arachnoiditis
inflammation of arachnoid
61
symptoms of Arachnoiditis
pain Tingling, numbness or weakness in the legs Strange sensations like the feeling of insects crawling on the skin or water trickling down the leg Bladder and bowel problems
62
The main causes of Arachnoiditis include:
Trauma or surgery-induced (Arachnoiditis can be a rare complication of spinal surgery ) Chemically-induced. Infection-induced— viral and fungal meningitis or tuberculosis.
63
what is transverse myelitis
inflammation (swelling) of the spinal cord; damage of the myelin sheath.
64
what is Conus medullaris
The bundle of nerves at the end of spinal cord is known as conus medullaris. Situated between first two lumbar vertebrae and cauda equina. Consequently, problems with the conus medullaris often affect the cauda equina. bilateral motor weakness motor radiculitis numbness early incontinence
65
cauda equina
nerve roots in lumbar spine are compressed cutting off sensation and movement. These nerve roots provide the ability to move and feel sensation in the legs and the bladder.
66
what is ALS?
neurodegenrative disease in which a persons brain loses connection with their muscles. loss of bulbar and limb function they eventually lose the ability to walk, talk, eat and eventually breathe

surgery 2: neurosurgery (8 decks)

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