A13. Trauma of the spine and spinal cord Flashcards
Prevalence of spinal column trauma:
64/100 000
spinal column trauma Neurological dysfunction is found in how many % of cases
in 10-30% of cases
spinal column trauma can be an injury to either
Vertebral column or spinal cord injury
which part of spine is affected in Trauma of the spine
50% affects cervical spine, 50% lumbar spine
spinal column trauma average age
32 y.o.
Most vulnerable parts of spinal column
are border between rigid and flexible regions (craniocervical,
cervicothoracal,
thoracolumbar zones)
Polytrauma (injury over several regions of spine) occurs in how many %
in 20-25%
Trauma of the spine and spinal cord causes
- motor vehicle accidents,
- falls,
- sports injuries,
- industrial accidents,
- assaults,
- gunshot
- wounds, minor traumas in weakened spine (osteoporosis, osseal tumors
outcome of spinal column trauma depends on
Outcome depends on
* neurological and radiological assessment,
* biomechanical knowledge,
* surgical treatment,
* emergency care
* effective rehabilitation
Spinal cord injuries are they medical emergencies?
yes!
in Spinal cord injuries what is important
- BP must be stabilized and
- oxygenation is important for
adequate blood perfusion to the spinal cord. - Patients must be moved with caution.
symptoms of spinal cord injuries depend on
Symptoms depend on
injury level (spinal cord, conus, epiconus, cauda syndrome, radicular signs
list Spinal cord injuries
- Acute transverse spinal cord injury, spinal shock
- Brown-Séquard syndrome = hemisection
- Anterior cord syndrome
- Central cord syndrome
- Conus medullaris syndrome
- Spinal cord concussion
- Cauda equina syndrome
complete VS incomplete spinal cord injury manifest as
- complete:
*paraplegia
*quadriplegia/tetraplegia - incomplete:
*paraplegia
*tetraplegia/quadriplegia
Acute transverse spinal cord injury, spinal shock - where is the lesion
Lesion of all ascending and descending pathways
→ Motor, sensory, autonomic
dysfunction
Acute transverse spinal cord injury, spinal shock symptoms
● Hypesthesia or anesthesia of all sensory modalities below the lesion
● Paraparesis or quadriparesis (corticospinal tract injury)
in Acute transverse spinal cord injury, spinal shock does Hypesthesia or anesthesia of all sensory modalities occur above or below the lesion
Hypesthesia or anesthesia of all sensory modalities below the lesion
Acute transverse spinal cord injury, spinal shock - what is the acute phase
- flaccid muscle tone,
- areflexia,
- no pyramidal signs (spinal shock)
Acute phase of Acute transverse spinal cord injury, spinal shock
Spinal shock =
* transient depression of all spinal cord functions below level of lesion (also reflexes and autonomic: paralytic ileus,
vasoparalysis with drop in BP,
cardiac shock,
flaccid bowel and bladder → urinary retention and overflow
incontinence).
Usually lasts hours-weeks.
how long does spinal shock last
Usually lasts hours-weeks.
Acute transverse spinal cord injury, spinal shock - what happens after acute phase
- spasticity,
- brisk deep tendon reflexes,
- pyramidal signs,
indicating
upper motoneuron lesion
Brown-Séquard syndrome is mainly due to
= hemisection
● Rare, mainly due to trauma (e.g. gunshot,
stabwound)
Brown-Séquard syndrome symptoms
- Ipsilateral proprioceptive sensory loss (proprioceptive tract)
- weakness (corticospinal tract) with contralateral loss of pain and temperature (spinothalamic tract)
Anterior cord syndrome is similar to which other syndrome
Similar to anterior spinal artery syndrome
cause of Anterior cord syndrome
Either due to
* compression of anterior part of
spinal cord
or
* the interruption of blood supply
from the anterior spinal artery
Anterior cord syndrome symptoms
● Below the lesion:
* Loss of motor function, pain and temperature sensation
Central cord syndrome is often associated with
flexion type of injuries to cervical spine