Primary Care Management of the Degenerative Spine Jim Messerly D.O.

Nothing to Disclose

Low Back Pain- Where’s the Pain Coming From???

Possible Low Back Pain Generators Discogenic Pain- With or Without Radicular Pain Facet Joint Pain- Usually Axial Low Back Pain

Most Common Causes of LBP in Adults* Strain or Sprain 70% Degenerative 10% Discogenic 4% Osteoporotic Fracture 4% Spinal Stenosis 3% Spondylolisthesis 2% Others- Neoplasm, Pelvic/Abdominal pathology *From the AAFP board review course 2016

Red Flags- Indications for Urgent Advanced Imaging History Findings Exam Findings Bladder/Bowel function changes- Retention/ Incontinence Severe, Unrelenting pain/Night pain History of Cancer- PbKTL (Prostate, Breast, Kidney, Thyroid, Lung) Trauma- Falls Progressive neurologic deficit- Foot Drop (L4,L5), Knee Giving Way (L4,L3) Major Motor weakness with specific lower extremity manual muscle testing. (Heel/Toe walk, One leg partial squat) Saddle Anesthesia Loss of Anal Sphincter Tone

Osteoarthritis Definition- Degeneration of joint cartilage. Also called degenerative joint disease and is the most common chronic condition of the joints, affecting 27 million Americans. OA can affect any joint, but it occurs most often in knees, hips, lower back and neck, small joints of the fingers and the bases of the thumb and big toe. Arthritis Foundation

Case #1 55 y/o Hmong male presents to the walk-in with a 2-3 month history of right hip/groin pain with occasional radiation into the right lower extremity. He works at a local window manufacturer with prolonged standing. PE reveals significant decreased right hip ROM when compared to the left with associated groin pain. SLR were negative BL.

Pelvis X-ray

Lateral L-Spine

Lumbar Spine Anatomy

Lumbar Facet Joint Arthritis

Degenerative vs Isthmic Spondylolisthesis

Degenerative Spondylolisthesis

Lumbar Facet Arthritis Pain Can be difficult to characterize clinically- Nonspecific LBP In General: Low back pain worse than lower extremity pain. Radiates laterally and occasionally to buttocks, but does not follow true radicular pattern. Pain is worse with standing and walking and better with sitting. Pain can be worse with spine extension usually more than flexion. Frequent localized tenderness on exam. SLR and lower extremity neuro exam usually normal. Can be associated with Degenerative Spondylolisthesis.

Facet Arthritis and Degenerative Spondylolisthesis

Severe Facet Arthropathy and Degenerative Spondylolisthesis

Facet Arthropathy- MRI Axial View

Facet Arthropathy/Degenerative Spondylolisthesis- Sagittal MRI

Treatment of Lumbar Facet Arthropathy/ Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Pain PT for Core Stabilization, Core Stabilization and more Core Stabilization. ?Trial Lumbar Traction. Cautious use of NSAID’s (Usually older patient’s with concern for GI, Renal and Cardiac issues). Consider Tylenol ES, 2 tabs TID- regularly, Ask about ETOH intake. Consider Tramadol. Narcotics last resort. Injections- Diagnostic Medial Branch Blocks with subsequent Radiofrequency Ablation. Surgical Fusion last option- ?Better for Degenerative Spondylolisthesis.

Degenerative Lumbar Spine with Radicular Pain Nerve Root Distribution

Evaluation of Radicular Pain

Lumbar Nerve Root Anatomy

Lumbar Disc Protrusions- MRI: Need to Correlate Physical and MRI Findings Lateral Disc Protrusion Far Lateral/Foraminal Disc Protrusion

Lumbar Disc Protrusions- Can Still Occur in the Elderly Patient Lateral Far Lateral/Foraminal Pain generally worse with flexion/sitting/coughing & sneezing. Pain usually in a predictable radicular pattern- requires careful lower extremity neuro exam. L3-4 lateral protrusion-L4 radic pain. L4-5 lateral protrusion-L5 radic pain. L5-S1 lateral protrusion-S1 radic pain. Pain generally worse with any prolonged standing and relieved by sitting. Pain usually in a predictable radicular pattern- requires careful lower extremity neuro exam. L3-4 foraminal protrusion-L3 radic pain. L4-5 foraminal protrusion-L4 radic pain. L5-S1 foraminal protrusion- L5 radic pain.

Treatment of Lumbar Disc Protrusions Lateral Far Lateral/Foraminal Physical Therapy- Core stabilization and possible extension exercises. Oral Steroid Burst Gabapentin- Start with 100mg and increase slowly. Transforaminal vs Caudal Epidural Steroid Injections. Surgery if unrelenting pain, neuro deficit or lack of response to conservative care. Physical Therapy- Core Stabilization, Avoid extension if aggravates radic pain. ?Traction. Oral Steroid Burst Gabapentin 100mg Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections. Surgery tougher because of facet joint in the way of discectomy.

Neuroforaminal Stenosis Secondary to Degenerative Discs and/or Scoliosis-L5

Neuroforaminal Stenosis Secondary to Degenerative Scoliosis- L5 Radic

Neuroforaminal Stenosis Secondary to Degenerative Scoliosis- L3/4 Radic

Treatment for Neuroforaminal Stenosis Due to Degenerative Scoliosis Same as Far Lateral/Foraminal disc protrusions. Physical Therapy for Core Stabilization cautious with extension. ?Trial of traction. Oral Steroid Burst Gabapentin 100mg Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections Surgery last resort

Spinal Stenosis With and Without Neurogenic Claudication (ICD-10) Low back pain with or without radicular pain/numbness/weakness in one or both legs that is worse with prolonged standing or walking (with lower extremity pain and cramping relieved by sitting- Neurogenic Claudication). Pain frequently better when leaning forward on shopping cart.

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis L4-5- MRI

Treatment of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Physical Therapy- Core Stabilization, Physical Activity Advice- Keep them active! Stationary bike better than walking for fitness. Oral Steroid Burst Gabapentin for Radicular Symptoms. Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections by Caudal or Transforaminal approach. Surgery last resort- “We don’t operate on MRI scans” Dr. Ben Hackett, Spine Surgeon. Still follow for progressive lower extremity neuro deficits.

Diagnoses of the Degenerative Cervical Spine Degeneration in the Cervical Spine similar to the Lumbar Spine: Facet Arthropathy with/without Anterolisthesis with Facet Mediated Pain. Disc Protrusions with Radicular pain. Degenerative Discs with Neuroforaminal and Central Canal narrowing with Radiculopathy or Myelopathy. Be mindful of Cervical Spinal Stenosis with spinal cord compression-Myelopathy. Always ask about problems with gait and balance! Check Hoffman’s Signs.

Cervical Spine Facet Arthropathy with Associated Anterolisthesis

Cervical Spine Facet Athropathy with Significant Anterolisthesis

Cervical Spine Disc Protrusion C5-6 without Spinal Cord Compression

Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical Disc Protrusion with Spinal Cord Compression and Myelopathy

Chronic Cervical Spine Stenosis with Myelopathy

Hoffman’s Sign for Myelopathy/Upper Motor Neuron Lesion

Other Signs of Myelopathy/Upper Motor Neuron Lesion Hyperreflexia Sustained Clonus Babinski Sign Romberg’s Testing Heel/Toe Walk Tandem Gait Lhermitte’s Sign

That’s All Folks