Alar Ligament Test: Difference between revisions
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== Purpose<br> == | == Purpose<br> == | ||
To assess the integrity of the alar ligaments and thus upper cervical stability.<br> | |||
== Technique<br> == | == Technique<br> == | ||
With the patient in supine, place one hand on the occiput and use the other hand to palpate the spinous process of C2. Laterally flex or rotate the head to one side; you should feel the spinous process move to the opposite side. Repeat on the other side. Absence of the spinous process moving to the opposite side may indicate alar ligament injury. If you block the spinous process of C2 from moving, you may stress the ligament. You should encounter a firm end-feel in this case. Significant movement may indicate ligamentous injury. | |||
The range of craniocervical rotation during rotation stress testing of intact alar ligaments should typically be 21 degrees or less<ref>Osmotherly PG, Rivett D, Rowe LJ.. Toward understanding normal craniocervical rotation occurring during the rotation stress test for the alar ligaments. Phys Ther. 2013 Jul;93(7):986-92. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20120266.</ref>. | |||
== Evidence == | == Evidence == | ||
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== References == | == References == | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Cervical_Examination]] |
Revision as of 18:23, 27 January 2014
Original Editor - Rachael Lowe
Top Contributors - Rachael Lowe, Admin, Tony Lowe, Evan Thomas, Kim Jackson, Claire Knott, Scott Buxton, George Prudden, Kai A. Sigel and WikiSysop
Purpose
[edit | edit source]
To assess the integrity of the alar ligaments and thus upper cervical stability.
Technique
[edit | edit source]
With the patient in supine, place one hand on the occiput and use the other hand to palpate the spinous process of C2. Laterally flex or rotate the head to one side; you should feel the spinous process move to the opposite side. Repeat on the other side. Absence of the spinous process moving to the opposite side may indicate alar ligament injury. If you block the spinous process of C2 from moving, you may stress the ligament. You should encounter a firm end-feel in this case. Significant movement may indicate ligamentous injury.
The range of craniocervical rotation during rotation stress testing of intact alar ligaments should typically be 21 degrees or less[1].
Evidence[edit | edit source]
Provide the evidence for this technique here
Resources[edit | edit source]
add any relevant resources here
Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)[edit | edit source]
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References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Osmotherly PG, Rivett D, Rowe LJ.. Toward understanding normal craniocervical rotation occurring during the rotation stress test for the alar ligaments. Phys Ther. 2013 Jul;93(7):986-92. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20120266.