Exam IV Flashcards
Concussion in association with SCI
temporary loss of function due to blow or violent shaking
Contusion in association with SCI
bleeding from local blood vessels due to bruising, causes compression from hemorrhages.
Laceration/maceration in association with SCI
more severe injury, may cause transection – from gunshot or knife wounds
Complete SCI
all functions below the injured area are lost, whether or not the spinal cord is severed. To be classified complete, there should be absence of all sensory and motor function in the lowest sacral segments supplied by S4-5 nerve roots.
Incomplete SCI
involves preservation of some motor and/or sensory function below the level of injury. For incomplete, needs some preservation of sensory or motor activity innervated by S4-S5, sacral sparing.
SCI Primary injury
In 1st 2 days – necrotic death secondary to direct trauma to tissue or blood vessels (causing hemorrhage and compression). Important to adequately stabilize injured spine to stop any additional damage.
SCI Secondary injury
In the following days/weeks/months - further progression of tissue injury due to biochemical mechanisms (excitotoxicity, inflammatory processes, oxidative damage, apoptosis, etc.)
Acute phase of secondary injury
Ischemia/hypoxia causing electrolyte imbalance, Excitotoxicity, Inflammation by immune cells, Edema, Oxidative damage
Subacute phase of secondary injury
Apoptosis, Demyelination, Wallerian degeneration, Evolution of glial scar
Chronic phase of secondary injury
Cystic cavity (Syringomyelia), progressive Wallerian degeneration, maturation of glial scar
Syringomyelia
Presence of fluid-filled cyst (syrinx) after SCI. Causes significant additional symptoms due to compression/destruction of the ascending/descending neural pathways and the autonomic nerves.
Syringomyelia symptoms
pain, loss of sensation, LMN signs (weakness, atrophy) due to damage to anterior horn cells, spasms, phantom sensations, autonomic signs (low BP with light-headedness, sweating, sexual dysfunction, loss of bladder/bowel control) due to damage to thoraco-lumbo-sacral autonomic nerves).
Most common site of syringomyelia – thoracic spine – signs distributed like cape over shoulders and back – progression from distal to proximal extremities
Anterior cord syndrome
Bilateral motor function loss
Bilateral loss of pain and temperature sensation
Preservation of proprioception, fine touch and vibration
Associated with flexion injuries
Posterior cord syndrome
Loss of proprioception, leading to severe gait and balance problems
Preservation of motor function, pain and temperature sense
Extremely rare
Central cord syndrome
Usually more severe deficits in UE than LE, due to sparing of peripheral regions of spinal cord
Function in lumbar and sacral regions can be spared or recovered sooner
Known as “suspended functional loss”
Brown-Sequard syndrome
Damage to one side of spinal cord
Loss of proprioception, fine touch, vibratory below ipsi side
Loss of pain and temperature some levels below contra side of lesion
UMN type lesion below ipsi side of lesion – spasticity, Babinski’s
Conus Medullaris and Cauda Equina syndromes
Perianal/Saddle anesthesia
bladder and bowel sphincter dysfunction – mostly flaccid
Lack of penile erection
Partial cord lesions
Spinothalamic tract lesion - loss of pain, temperature and touch below lesion on contralateral side
changes in muscle tone after SCI
Flaccidity, loss of reflexes (skeletal and autonomic) below level of lesion during spinal shock period, may persist for few hours, days or weeks. Spasticity then follows that can be exaggerated by noxious stimuli
Autonomic Dysreflexia
common above T6 lesions. Sudden rise in systolic (>20mmHg) and diastolic (>10mmHg) BP. Caused by unbalanced/unrestricted vasoconstriction by sympathetic nervous system below level of lesion
Autonomic Dysreflexia symptoms
HTN, slow pulse (bradycardia), pounding headache, sweating above level, nausea, blurred vision, restlessness/anxiety, nasal congestion
Triggered by noxious stimuli, problems with bladder/bowel emptying, clogged/kinked catheter, UTI, pressure ulcer, sexual activity, menstruation, etc.
Medical emergency
Pain associated with SCI
The number of pain sites increases with time, regardless of whether they are complete or incomplete. Depression is associated with worsening pain. Parathesia and musculoskeletal pain can come from faulty posture, overuse of UE due to dependency for ADLs – need to protect the shoulder joints from overuse injuries.