Clearing C spine, hand exam, foot exam, Cauda equina, dermotomes, myotomes and reflexes
Clearing the C Spine.
Combination of the Nexus rules and Canadian rules in order to clear.
Hand exam
Name bones- index, middle, ring, little.
Check sensation
Palpate joints.
Name joints
- PIPJ
- DIPJ
- MCPJ
Radial and ulna aspect NOT lateral and medial
Foot examination.
LOOK
Be Careful With Spaghetti
Bones for deformity and alignment
Colour
Wasting/spasm
Swelling/scarring/skin
FEEL
VSSTT
Vascular
Sensation
Swelling
Temperature
Tenderness
MOVE
Active
Passive
Resisted
Acute on chronic back pain
Exclude cauda equina.
Medical emergency can cause paralysis within 48 hours. Needs urgent MRI.
Is there:
- Sphincter disturbance.
- Gait disturbance (scissoring of legs)
- Saddle anaeasthesia- loss of perianal sensation
- Urinary retention
- Faecal incontinence.
