A 56-year-old male presents with complaints of right-sided neck pain with radiation down the right arm into the right index finger and thumb. He reports a recent fall from a scaffold while painting on the job. On physical examination, you note a 0/4 biceps reflex on the right compared to 2/4 on the left and 1/5 grip strength of the right hand compared to 5/5 of the left hand. Which of the following is a test that can be performed to assist in the diagnosis of cervical disk herniation?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Spurling's sign is a specific test for cervical radiculopathy, which can be caused by cervical disk herniation. It involves lateral bending and axial compression of the neck, which can reproduce symptoms if nerve root compression is present. Lhermitte's sign, although more commonly associated with multiple sclerosis, involves an electric shock-like sensation running down the back and into the limbs with flexion of the neck and can be positive in cases of cervical spinal cord compression. Apley's sign is used in the assessment of meniscal injuries in the knee, thus not relevant to cervical disk herniation.

A 56-Year-Old Male Presents with Complaints of Right-Sided Neck Pain