Spine Path

Question 1

What has to happen before a disk can herniate?

Answer 1

some degree of annulus degenerated

Question 2

What part of the disk herniates?

Answer 2

nucleus pulposus

Question 3

What causes cauda equina syndrome? Symptoms?

Answer 3

caused by impingement of cuada equina

symptoms: urinary retention, back pain, radicular symptoms, and saddle anesthesia

Question 4

What are 8 reasons to image low back pain?

Answer 4

>50YO
neuro symptoms
trauma
cancer history
IV drugs
immunosuppression
systemic symptoms
night pain (awakens)

Question 5

How can you tell the difference between spinal cancer and infection on imaging?

Answer 5

cancer spares disks, infection does not

Question 6

What is spinal stenosis?

Answer 6

degenerative decrease in spinal canal caliber

can have many underlying causes

Question 7

What is neurogenic claudication?

Answer 7

LE pain on activity

worse with spinal extension