Moderators: Rick Placide, MD, PT and Evan K. Johnson, PT, DPT, OCS
A clinician's ability to diagnose accurately is essential to prescribing effective treatment when assessing patients with spinal disorders. While many patients present with recognizable patterns of spine related signs and symptoms (i.e, radiculopathy or myelopathy) the relationship between patient presentation and pathoanatomy can be obscure. Our modern healthcare system often demands high patient census and the use of physician extenders. This makes it is increasingly challenging for the spinal healthcare practitioner to identify and piece together mitigating factors that may indicate that a patient has an unidentified condition that is causing symptoms that masquerade as a spinal disorder. It is critical that physicians and other frontline healthcare practitioners discriminate between signs and symptoms caused by spinal pathology and those caused by other conditions.
In this interactive forum we will introduce cases that bring to light some of the challenges inherent in treating patients who present with conditions that masquerade as spinal disorders. We will examine cases where visceral organ systems and non-spinal musculoskeletal and neurological disorders mimicked spinal conditions. Presenters will emphasize the importance of utilizing clinical examination techniques as well as imaging and ancillary testing to screen for comorbid disorders. Attendees will be encouraged to share their thoughts in the hope that this will stimulate a conversation that can help to inform those present and lead to more effective interventions for patients.
Upon completion of this session, participants should gain strategies to:
- Recognize distinctive characteristics of the history, clinical presentation and physical examination of individuals who present with pain and disability arising from conditions that mimic spinal pathology;
- Integrate knowledge of visceral, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders with clinical findings to facilitate optimal triage of patients with pain and disability arising from conditions that mimic spinal pathology in a manner consistent with best practice;
- Identify the advantages and disadvantages of specific clinical examination and treatment techniques for individuals who present with pain and disability arising from conditions that mimic spinal pathology;
- Enhance the use of best practice examination and treatment techniques of individuals with pain and disability arising from conditions that mimic spinal pathology.
Agenda
Introduction/Welcome
Evan Johnson, DPT
Musculoskeletal Masqueraders
Evan Johnson, DPT
Neurological Masquerader
Rick Placide, MD, PT
Organ System Masquerader
Rick Placide, MD, PT
Case Presentations with Audience Responses
Rick Placide, MD, PT and Evan Johnson, DPT
Audience Comments and Questions
Faculty Panel