Cord Lesions Flashcards
3 most clinically important tracts of spinal cord
- dorsal columns
- lateral corticospinal tracts
- spinothalamic tracts (w/in anterolateral pathway)
function of dorsal columns
- carry info on fine touch, vibration, and proprioception to the brain
function of the lateral corticospinal tracts
- carry efferent impulses from the motor cortices to the peripheral musculature, to control fine, voluntary movements
function of the spinothalamic tracts
- carry information on pain and temperature from the periphery to the brain
describe transverse lesions
- complete transection of the cord resulting in loss of pain/temp perception, vibration/touch/proprioception perception, and UMN lesion sx
describe UMN lesion sx
5
- paralysis
- spasticity
- hyper-reflexemia
- clonus
- pos babinski
describe anterior lesions
- bilateral UMN lesion signs
- Loss of pain/temp sensation below the level of the lesion
- Dorsal columns spared (no loss of fine touch)
describe posterior lesions
- bilateral loss of fine touch, vibration, and proprioception below level of spinal lesion
- motor function and pain/temp sensation are spared
hemi-cord lesions AKA
brown-sequard syndrome
describe hemi cord lesions
- loss of fine touch, proprioception, and vibration sensation and UMN lesion sx on the side of the lesion
- loss of pain/temp sensation on the opposite side of the lesion
describe small central cord lesions
- only disrupts the spinothalamic fibers at the level of the lesion
- causes a “cape of pain/temp loss” over the arms
describe large central cord lesions
- disrupts all but the outermost area of the spinal cord
- sacral region is spared
mnemonic for identifying causes of lesions
INVITED MD
INVITED MD
I
what it stands for + 2 specifics
INFECTIOUS
* epidural abscess
* tertiary syphilis
INVITED MD
N
2 specifics
NEOPLASM
* intrinsic/extrinsic spinal cord tumor
INVITED MD
V
3 specifics
VASCULAR
* spinal stroke
* AVM
* cavernoma
INVITED MD
I
3 specifics
INFLAMMATORY
* transverse myelitis
* MS
* neuromyelitis optica
INVITED MD
T
2 specifics
TRAUMA
* stab wound
* spinal fracture
INVITED MD
E
no specifics
ENDOCRINE
INVITED MD
D
2 specifics
DEGENERATIVE
* intervertebral disc prolapse
* spondylosis
INVITED MD
M
1 specific
METABOLIC
* vit B12 deficiency
INVITED MD
D
no specifics
DRUGS
