k-lab-palpation, special tests & c-spine...
TRANSCRIPT
Lab‐Palpation, Special Tests & C‐Spine Clearing Tests
Remember…Start with common bony landmarks.Be gentle to start with.Compare both sides.Be patientAnatomy diagrams are for lab purposes. Not perfect illustrations.
Palpation – Medial Elbow
Medial Epicondyle
Ulnar Nerve
Medial Elbow
Flexor Mechanism
Pronator Teres
Posterior ElbowTriceps
Olecranon Process
Lateral Elbow
Lateral Epicondyle
Extensor Mechanism
Anterior ElbowDistal BicepsTendon
Wrist Landmarks
Ulnar Styloid Process
Radial Styloid Process
Anatomical Snuff BoxEPL
EPB
APL
CMC Joint
1st Metacarpal
Trapezium
Scaphoid
Dorsal Wrist
2nd Metacarpal
Trapezoid
Dorsal WristCapitateLunate 3rd Metacarpal
Dorsal WristHamate
Triquetrum
Palmar Aspect of the Wrist
Trapezium
Scaphoid
Trapezium
Capitate
Hamate and HookTriquetrum & Pisiform
Special Tests Be gentle! Some tests are painful to non‐injured people.
Compare both sides. Watch for overlap (ie. Phalen’s Test)
Don’t tell patients what you are looking for.
Elbow‐ Varus & Valgus Stress Test WITH THE PATIENT'S
ELBOW SLIGHTLY FLEXED (20‐30 DEGREES) A VALGUS STRESS IS APPLIED TO THE ELBOW TO CHECK THE MEDIAL (ULNAR) COLLATERAL LIGAMENT. A VARUS STRESS IS APPLIED TO CHECK THE LATERAL COLLATERAL LIGAMENT. CLINICIAN ASSESSES STABILITY OF THE ELBOW AND PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THE TEST.
Lateral Epicondylitis Test A WITH THE PATIENT'S ELBOW FLEXED, FOREARM PRONATED, WRIST EXTENDED AND HAND IN A FIST, THE CLINICIAN TRIES TO PUSH THE WRIST INTO FLEXION WHILE THE PATIENT RESISTS. PAIN OVER THE LATERAL EPICONDYLE IS A POSITIVE TEST.
Lateral Epicondylitis Test B THE CLINICIAN PASSIVELY PRONATES THE PATIENT'S FOREARM, FLEXES THE WRIST AND EXTENDS THE ELBOW TO STRETCH THE EXTENSORS OF THE FOREARM. PAIN OVER THE LATERAL EPICONDYLE IS A POSITVE TEST.
Medial Epicondylitis Test A WITH THE PATIENT'S ELBOW FLEXED, FOREARM SUPINATED, WRIST FLEXED, AND HAND IN A FIST, THE CLINICIAN TRIES TO PUSH THE WRIST INTO EXTENSION WHILE THE PATIENT RESISTS. PAIN OVER THE MEDIAL EPICONDYLE IS A POSITIVE TEST.
Medial Epicondylitis Test B
THE CLINICIAN PASSIVELY SUPINATES THE PATIENT'S FOREARM AND EXTENDS BOTH THE ELBOW AND THE WRIST. PAIN OVER THE MEDIAL EPICONDYLE IS A POSITIVE TEST.
Tinel’s Sign (Elbow) CHECKS FOR ULNAR
NERVE ENTRAPMENT. THE CLINICIAN TAPS THE ULNAR NERVE AT ITS LOCATION BETWEEN THE OLECRANON PROCESS AND THE MEDIAL EPICONDYLE. A TINGLING SENSATION IN THE UNLAR NERVE DISTRIBUTION OF THE HAND IS A POSITIVE TEST.
FINKELSTEIN'S TEST CHECKS FOR DEQUERVAIN'S
TENOSYNOVITIS (BE VERY GENTLE). THE PATIENT MAKES A FIST WITH THE THUMB INSIDE THE FINGERS. HE OR SHE THEN BRINGS THE WRIST INTO ULNAR DEVIATION. PAIN OVER THE ABDUCTOR POLLICUS LONGUS AND EXTENSOR POLLICUS BREVIS TENDONS IS A POSITIVE TEST. THE 2 SIDES MUST BE COMPARED, BECAUSE THIS TEST IS NORMALLY UNCOMFORTABLE.
Tinel’s Sign (Wrist) CHECKS FOR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME. THE CLINICIAN TAPS OVER THE MEDIAN NERVE IN THE CARPAL TUNNEL. TINGLING IN THE MEDIAN NERVE DISTRIBUTION OF THE HAND IS A POSITIVE TEST. (ZINGING OR ELECTRIC PAIN)
Phalen’s Test CHECKS FOR CARPAL
TUNNEL SYNDROME. THE PATIENT PLACES THE BACK SIDE OF HIS/HER HANDS TOGETHER TO CREATE MAXIMAL WRIST FLEXION AND HOLDS FOR 1 MINUTE. TINGLING IN THE MEDIAN NERVE DISTRIBUTION OF THE HAND IS A POSITIVE TEST.
Modified Phalen’s
THIS POSITION CAN ELIMINATE INFLUENCE FROM THE THORACIC OUTLET.
Froment’s Sign CHECKS FOR ULNAR
NERVE DYSFUNCTION (ADDUCTOR POLLICUS WEAKNESS). THE PATIENT GRASPS A PIECE OF PAPER BETWEEN HIS/HER THUMB AND INDEX FINGER AND THE CLINICIAN ATTEMPS TO PULL IT AWAY. FLEXION OF THE THUMB IS A POSITIVE TEST. (MAKE SURE THAT THE FINGER STAYS IN ADDUCTION.)
Supination Lift for TFCC Tear
SUPINATE THE WRISTS AND PLACE FINGERS UNDER TABLE TOP. THIS WILL CAUSE PAIN NEAR ULNAR SIDE OF WRIST.
Ulnar Load Test for TFCC Tear
Piano Key Test for TFCC Tear
DEPRESS THE DISTAL ULNAR STYLOID PROCESS WHILE THE PATIENT WRIST IS PRONATED. THIS WOULD CAUSE PAIN NEAR THE ULNAR‐METACARPAL JOINT
Cervical Spine Clearing These happen more often than you think!
If undiagnosed, can leave pt. with life long disability.
? Radicular pain in supine without pillow.
Does flexion to opposite side feel better?
Vague pain in axilla, triceps, scapula,elbow??
Does traction help?
Cervical Spine Compression
Place patient in neutral neck position.
Give gentle downward pressure.
+ if increased radicularpain to one side.
Spurling’s Test
Extend, laterally flex and rotate to the same side.
Pain on that side indicates foraminalencroachment or facet syndrome.
Can also be HNP
C5 Nerve Root
C‐6 Nerve Root
C‐7 Nerve Root
C‐8 Nerve Root
No reflex to test
Marquis Maneuver Identify weakness first. Traction at 15deg. flex. and 15deg. lat. flex. to opposite side. Re‐test strength while on traction. Increase in strength indicates HNP. Weakness identifies the level.
Video of Mike‐ C‐spine Radic.