assessment of spinal cord 3 = 10 spinal cord syndromes

Question 1

spinal shock
complete transection

tracts affected?

deficits?
acute?
3-4 months?

Answer 1

all tracts

deficits = sensory and motor levels below lesion and root signs at site

acute = LMN signs + absent autonomic (bladder sweat)
3-4 moths = UMN + babinski

Question 2

deficits = sensory and motor levels below lesion and root signs at site

acute = LMN signs + absent autonomic (bladder sweat)
3-4 moths = UMN + babinski

Answer 2

spinal shock

Question 3

central lesions

causes?

Answer 3

syringomyelia
ependymoma
cord contusion

Question 4

central lesions
tracts affected?

deficits?

Answer 4

anterolateral (pain/temp)

deficit = pain temp loss at level of lesion, sparing position

cape like distribution if in C-spine

Question 5

deficit = pain temp loss at level of lesion, sparing position

cape like distribution if in C-spine

Answer 5

central lesions

Question 6

posterior column syndrome

causes?

Answer 6

tabes dorsalis = neurosyphilis

Question 7

posterior column syndrome
tracts

deficits

Answer 7

PCML

b/l loss of pain and vibration sense

Question 8

b/l loss of pain and vibration sense

Answer 8

posterior column syndrome

Question 9

combined anterior horn cell-pyramidal tract syndrome

causes

Answer 9

als

Question 10

combined anterior horn cell-pyramidal tract syndrome
tracts

deficits

Answer 10

corticospinal tract
LMN cells in cord (motor)

loss of bilateral strength

Question 11

loss of bilateral strength

Answer 11

combined anterior horn cell-pyramidal tract syndrome

Question 12

brown-sequard

causes

Answer 12

compression by herniated discs, tumor, extramedullary absces

Question 13

brown-sequard
tracts

deficits

Answer 13

crossed spinothalamic tract
Uncrossed PCML
crossed corticospinal tract

below lesion = loss of contralat pain/temp, ipsil touch/prop, ipsil strength

Question 14

below lesion = loss of contralat pain/temp, ipsil touch/prop, ipsil strength

Answer 14

brown-sequard

Question 15

posterolateral cord syndrome

cause

Answer 15

b12 deficiency = subacute combined degeneration

Question 16

posterolateral cord syndrome
tracts
deficits

Answer 16

tracts = PCML and corticospinal

deficits =
b/l loss of position, vibration, strength

Question 17

b/l loss of position, vibration, strength

Answer 17

posterolateral cord syndrome

Question 18

anterior horn cell syndrome

causes

Answer 18

spinal muscular atrophy

poliovirus

Question 19

anterior horn cell syndrome
tracts
deficits

Answer 19

no tracts
just LMNs

b/l loss of strength

Question 20

b/l loss of strength

Answer 20

anterior horn cell syndrome

Question 21

anterior spinal artery occlusion
tracts
deficits

Answer 21

spinothalamic and corticospinal

b/l loss of strength, pain, temp
sparing of position sense

Question 22

b/l loss of strength, pain, temp

sparing of position sense

Answer 22

anterior spinal artery occlusion

Question 23

pyramidal tract syndrome

causes

Answer 23

primary lateral sclerosis

Question 24

pyramidal tract syndrome
tracts
deficits

Answer 24

corticospinal tracts

b/l UMN weakness with spastic gait
incr DTR
complete sparing of all sensory tracts and bladder function

Question 25

b/l UMN weakness with spastic gait
incr DTR
complete sparing of all sensory tracts and bladder function

Answer 25

pyramidal tract syndrome

Question 26

myelopathy with radiculopathy

causes

Answer 26

cervical spinal stenosis (congential or degenrative)

Question 27

myelopathy with radiculopathy
tracts

deficits

Answer 27

any of all 3 tracts esp corticospinal

b/l UMN syndrome with spastic gait, incr DTR
ipsil or contralat root signs

possible bladder dysfunction

Question 28

b/l UMN syndrome with spastic gait, incr DTR
ipsil or contralat root signs

possible bladder dysfunction

Answer 28

myelopathy with radiculopathy