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Chapter 7 - Examination of the Adult Spine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 April 2022

Fazal Ali
Affiliation:
Chesterfield Royal Hospital
Nick Harris
Affiliation:
Spire Hospital, Leeds
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Summary

Examination of the adult spine follows a similar sequence for the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines. The lumbar spine is emphasised in this chapter. The stepsinclude: Stand the patient and inspect. This is followed by palpation and then movement of the spine. Ask the patient to walk and then perform a complete neurological examination. With a cervical spine examination, the nerological examination is of the upper and lower limbs, whereas in the lumbar spine it is just the lower limb. For the thoracic spine, abdominal reflexes should also be performed.

This chapter covers disc disease including myelopathy in more detail. Other important conditions are also covered such as the bulbocavernosus reflex and tandem spinal stenosis.

Type
Chapter
Information
Orthopaedic Examination Techniques
A Practical Guide
, pp. 112 - 132
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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