Exposing Spinal Pain Imposters: Differential Diagnosis Spine

Delaying proper treatment due to poor diagnosis is detrimental to a patient's well-being. The sooner a patient with a nonmusculoskeletal issue is referred to the correct practitioner, the sooner the patient will receive the best and most appropriate treatment. Join Debra Dent, BPT, Dip Manip PT, OCS (Emeritus), FCAMPT (Retired), as she brings her 40 plus years of experience together in this dynamic four part seminar to explore serious pathologies and diseases of the trunk and spine. A discussion of the latest evidence in screening and physical testing will be presented.  Explore evaluative processes to improve awareness of differential diagnoses and test results that might be performed by other health professionals. Walk away with a thorough knowledge of appropriate screenings for patients with musculoskeletal issues.

Please Note: For CEU credit you will need to apply to your licensing board on an individual basis.

Part 1: Differential Diagnosis of the Spine

The initial hour of this seminar will deal with the statistics, Clinical Prediction Rules, and understanding red and yellow flags. There will also be a review of the systems, mandatory questions required on history. The course will also examine diseases within these systems such as neurogenic, vasculogenic, spondylogenic, psychogenic, and viscerogenic.

Objectives:

The Student will be able to:

1. List five statistical references that relate to evidence-based practice.

2. List four Red flags that are pertinent in the evaluation component of treatment.

3. Identify the five categories that pertain to possible spinal pain and referred pain.

4. Describe the characteristics of two metabolic diseases that can affect the spine.

Part 2: Cervical, Cranial and Upper Extremity

The second hour in the Differential Diagnosis of the Spine

deals with the Cervical Spine and Cranial regions. Specific mandatory questions,

red flags, and specific charts on signs and symptoms of diseases and conditions of this

region are presented. Headache classifications and a broad number of diseases of the

upper quadrant are presented in detail along with their signs and symptoms. Evidence-based CPR's such as the Canadian C Spine Rule, CPR for Myelopathy and

Radiculopathy, and specific screening tools are outlined. A discussion of how to screen

for BPPV is also presented.

Objectives:

The Student will be able to:

1. Recognize and list four red flags for the cervical and shoulder girdle.

2. Identify three medical conditions that may refer to the cervical spine but are non-

musculoskeletal in origin and require a physician's intervention.

3. Be able to name and describe two CPR for the Cervical Spine.

4. List one dural test that is done for the nervous system in the Cervical region.

Part 3: Thoracic and Thorax

The third hour in the Differential Diagnosis of the Spine

deals with the Thoracic spine and the Diseases and conditions that can affect this

region. Specific mandatory questions, red flags and specific charts on signs and

symptoms of diseases and conditions of the Thoracic spine are presented. The

Viscerogenic, Vasculogenic, Spondylogenic issues for this region are outlined and

discussed in detail. CPRs for Ankylosing Spondylitis and Vertebral Fractures are

discussed along with the evidence. Abdominal palpation and chest expansion

measurement is also outlined.

Objectives:

1. Identify and describe two musculoskeletal issues of the thoracic region.

2. List one dural test that is used to evaluate the thoracic region which will assist in

determining normal neuromeningeal pathway mobility.

3. List two CPR of the spine in the thoracic region that have good reliability and are

effective in use.

4. List and describe two vascular diagnoses which may relate to Thoracic Spine

referred pain

Part 4: Lumbar Spine, Pelvis, and Hip

The fourth hour in the Differential Diagnosis of the Spine series

deals with the Lumbar Spine, Pelvis, and Hip Regions and the diseases and conditions

that can affect this region. Specific mandatory questions, red flags, and specific charts

on signs and symptoms of diseases and conditions of the Lumbar Spine, Pelvis, and Hip

regions are presented. Discussions of the Viscerogenic, Vasculogenic, Spondylogenic

conditions that can affect this region are presented and discussed in detail. Screening

tools along with the CPRs and their evidence are presented for the Lumbar Spine,

Pelvis and Hip regions.

Objectives:

1. Identify two serious pathologies that appear to be related to the lumbar spine but are

not.

2. Describe three categories of pelvic fractures than may occur.

3. Describe the objective differences between vascular claudication and neurogenic

claudication.

4. List the five screening tests for the pelvis and SI joint.