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cervical radiculopathy

Upper Extremity Pain: Where's the pathology—Neck or Shoulder?

Teaser: 

Andrew Trenholm, MD, MSc, FRCSC,1
Fred Xavier, MD, PhD,2
Sean Christie, MD, FRCSC,3

1 Associate Professor Orthopaedics (Upper Extremity and Trauma) Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
2Fellow, Combined Spine Program, Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
3 Associate Professor, Dalhousie University, Department of Surgery (Neurosurgery), Halifax, NS.

CLINICAL TOOLS

Abstract: Neck and shoulder disorders are among the leading causes of pain and disability. History and physical examination are key components to clinical diagnosis and to determining whether the source of the arm pain is the neck or the shoulder. When consistent with the history, it is recommended to perform targeted provocative tests or manoeuvers. Several studies have shown that using a test item cluster improves diagnostic accuracy more than any single test item alone. Imaging, electrophysiological and laboratory studies are usually unnecessary unless there are clear clinical indications.
Key Words: Cervical radiculopathy, Neck pain, Shoulder pain, Clinical diagnosis, Provocative tests.

Members of the College of Family Physicians of Canada may claim MAINPRO-M2 Credits for this unaccredited educational program.

www.cfpc.ca/Mainpro_M2

You can take quizzes without subscribing; however, your results will not be stored. Subscribers will have access to their quiz results for future reference.

Pre-test CME Quiz Post-test CME Quiz
1. Sinister pathology is rarely produces completely intermittent pain.
2. Neck pain is frequently associated with psychosocial stress and heightened emotional response.
3. The first step in taking the history is to establish the site of the dominant pain.
4. A neurological examination should include tests for spinal cord involvement causing cervical myelopathy.
5. Neck dominant pain can include pain felt in the face, upper back, top of the shoulder, anterior chest and headache.
The best way to differentiate between the neck and the shoulder as the source of upper limb pain is to assess the effect of movement in each area on the patient's typical pain.
The provocative tests should be chosen to confirm a suspected diagnosis. By themselves they are not a reliable guide to the specific pathology.
Neck and shoulder problems may coexist particularly in older patients and the examination of one should always include a screen of the other.
Radicular arm pain is more often caused by boney foraminal nerve root entrapment than by a new "soft" disc herniation.
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Related Terms: Back Health, cervical radiculopathy, neck pain, Shoulder pain, clinical diagnosis, Provocative tests
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Cervical Radiculopathy: Diagnosis and Management

Teaser: 

Heidi Godbout, MD,1 Sean Christie, MD, FRCSC,2

1Dalhousie University, Dept. Surgery (Neurosurgery), Dept. Medical Neurosciences.
2Associate Professor, Dalhousie University, Dept. Surgery (Neurosurgery).

CLINICAL TOOLS

Abstract: Neck and arm pain are common reasons to seek medical attention, especially in the working population. However, there are several diagnostic pitfalls that must be avoided. Appropriate, conservative management will lead to improvement in a significant number of patients. Knowing when to refer a patient as well as what imaging modalities are indicated is crucial to managing cervical radiculopathy in the primary care setting. The purpose of this review is to help primary care physicians diagnose, investigate and treat cervical radiculopathy and to know when a surgical referral is appropriate.
Key Words: Cervical radiculopathy, neurological exam, imaging, conservative treatment, surgery.

Members of the College of Family Physicians of Canada may claim MAINPRO-M2 Credits for this unaccredited educational program.

www.cfpc.ca/Mainpro_M2

You can take quizzes without subscribing; however, your results will not be stored. Subscribers will have access to their quiz results for future reference.

Pre-test CME Quiz Post-test CME Quiz
1. Cervical pain is a common clinical problem; pure cervical radiculopathy is much less frequent.
2. The natural history of cervical radiculopathy is favorable; most patients improve within 3 months.
3. Imaging is only required if there are indications of sinister, non-mechanical pathology or when surgery is being contemplated.
4. Surgery produces beneficial results in 85-90% of cases.
1. A well-constructed musculoskeletal and neurological history and physical examination can distinguish between mechanical neck pain, cervical radiculopathy, cervical myelopathy or shoulder pathology.
2. C5-6 and C6-7 are the most common levels affected.
3. C6 radiculopathy leads to numbness in the thumb and weakness in wrist extension.
4. C7 radiculopathy leads to numbness in the middle finger and triceps weakness.
5. Spurling's manoeuver can be used to reproduce radicular symptoms. It should not be used when myelopathy is suspected.
To have access to full article that these tools were developed for, please subscribe. The cost to subscribe is $80 USD per year and you will gain full access to all the premium content on www.healthplexus.net, an educational portal, that hosts 1000s of clinical reviews, case studies, educational visual aids and more as well as within the mobile app.
Related Terms: Back Health, cervical radiculopathy, neurological exam, imaging, conservative treatment, surgery