FINAL EXAM - SCI Flashcards
Paraplegia
Impairment or loss of sensory and/or motor function in the Thoracic, lumbar, or sacral segments of the spinal cord. Affects lower extremities and trunk. Upper extremities are spared
Etiology of spinal cord injuries– Four
Number one. MVA
Number two. Falls
Number three. Acts of violence
Number four. Sports
Nontraumatic spinal cord injuries most common cause – 6
- Cancer/tumors
- Spinal stenosis
- Transverse myelitis/infections
- Motor Neuron disease. (Guilin Barre syndrome, CIDP)
- MS
- Spinal stroke
Life expectancy for spinal cord injuries varies based on – three
- Age at time of injury – longus at 20 years of age, shortest at 60 years of age
- Level of injury – longest if paraplegic, shortest if tetraplegic
- Completeness of injury – longest if incomplete, shortest is complete, shorter if ventilator dependent
Cause of death for spinal cord injuries – two
- Pneumonia
2. Septicemia
The vertebral column is made up of how many cervical, thoracic , lumbar, sacral and, coccygeal vertebrae?
Seven cervical 12 thoracic Five lumbar Five sacral Four coccygeal
Flexion load versus extension load refers to
The position of the head and neck during injury. This mechanism of injury is unstable
Flexion load versus extension load characteristics – three
One. Estimated 90% of injuries are flexion load
Two. Significant bone and ligamentous disruption as well as Neurological injury
three. Often require surgical stabilization
Tetraplegia
Impairment or loss of sensory and/or motor function in the cervical segments of the spinal cord. Affects upper extremities, lower extremity’s, trunk and possibly respiratory systems.
Hi velocity versus low velocity characteristics – two
- Hi velocity injuries generally cause more damage to the spinal cord (gunshot wound, MVA, some sports)
- Low velocity injuries associated with less damage and a brighter prognosis (Falls, some sports, tumors) – usually an older population due to falls
Other mechanisms of injury – two
One. Infection
Two. Disease
The key to reducing risk of paralysis at time of injury is to reduce
Inflammation
AIS (American spinal injury Association impairment scale)classification
ASIA impairment scale previously known as a just scale. Uses key muscles for motor level classification, key points for sensory level classification, can be different levels for motor versus century, and can be different levels for left versus right
AIS motor testing tests key muscle groups graded on 0 to 5 MMT scale the key groups are
C5 – elbow flexors C6 – wrist extensors C8 – flexion of middle distal phalanx T1 – abduction of fifth finger L2 – hip flexors L3 – knee extensors L4 – ankle Doris flexors L5 – great toe extensors S1 – ankle plantar flexors
AIS sensory testing
What does it test?
How does it test?
Grading
Sensation tested by dermatomes With a light touch and pinprick Grading: 0= absent 1= impaired 2= normal NT= not testable
axial load refers to
bone shards penetrate the cord. this mechanism of injury is generally stable
Characteristics of Axia Load (3)
- result in burst fractures
- frequently considered orthopedically stable
- often result in significant neurological damage due to splintering of vertebral body into spinal cord
ASIA A - Most Impaired
Complete. No motor or sensory fxn preserved at sacral segments S4-S5 (Anal sphincter)
ASIA B
Incomplete. Sensory but not motor fsxn is preserved below the neurological level and includes the sacral segments of S4-S5
ASIA C
Incomplete. motor fxn is preserved below the neurological level, and more that half of key muscles below the neurological level have a grade less than 3
ASIA D
Incomplete. Motor fxn is preserved below the neurological level, and at least half of the key muscles below the neurological level and a muscle grading great than or equal 3/5
ASIA E Least impaired
Normal
Neurological level is the lowest level at which there is
normal motor AND sensory fxn
Motor level
Level at which strength is great than or equal 3/5 with the level about it being 5/5
sensory level
Level at which the sensation is intact for both pinprick and light touch
Complete
the absence of sensory or motor function in the lowest sacral segment (S4-5)
Zone of Partial Preservation (ZPP)
used only with complete injuries. Refers to those dermatomes and myotomes caudal to the neurological level that remain partially innervated
Incomplete
partial preservation of sensory &/or motor function in the lowest sacral segment (S4-S5)
5 clinical syndromes of SCI (all incomplete)
- central cord syndrome
- brown sequard syndrome
- anterior cord syndrome
- conus medullaris syndrome
- Cauda equina syndrome
Central Cord Syndrome is commonly caused by
falls
Central cord syndrome characteristics (7)
- Most common incomplete injury
- cervical lesion on the neck
- produces sacral sparing
- greater weakness in UEs than in LEs (can walk around but can’t use arms)
- may also produce bladder dysfunction
- various forms of sensory loss below the level of the lesion
- Outcomes: 75% walk, 50% regain bowel and bladder control, 25% regain UE fn
Brown Sequard Syndrome common cause
gun shot wounds
Brown sequard syndrome (6)
- occur in 2-4% of all SCI
- lesion that damages 1/2 of spinal cord (hemisection)
- Ipsilateral proprioceptive and motor loss (one side of the body)
- contralateral loss of sensitivity to pain and temperature (other side of the body)
- patient presents with hemiparesis
- Outcome: Generally expected to be positive
Anterior cord syndrome can be caused by
disrupted blood flow to the part of cord “anterior spinal artery syndrome)
Anterior Cord Syndrome characteristics (5)
- injury affects anterior 2/3 of spinal cord
- loss of motor fn below level of injury
- loss of sensitivity to pain and temperature
- preservation of proprioception, light touch, and deep pressure (prevents ulcers and fx)
- outcome: 10-20% chance of muscle recovery
Conus Medullaris Syndrome(3)
- Injury of the sacral cord (conus) and lumbar nerve roots within the spinal canal
- Presents with lower motor neuron deficits of anal sphincter and bladder
- Areflexic (flaccid) bladder and lower extremities
Cauda Equina Syndrome (5)
- injury to lumbosacral nerve roots within the neural canal
- Below L1
- Lower motor neuron injury
- Areflexic bladder and bowel
- Flaccid lower extremities
Posterior Cord Syndrome (Rare) (5)
- no longer recognized as a standardized clinical syndrome of SCI
1. occurs in
Comorbidities at time of SCI ( 7)
- Fx
- amputations
- loss of consciousness
- TBI
- Pneumothorax
- Hemothorax
- burns
Surgical management following SCI (6)
- Goal is to align spinal column and canal, and to remove pressure on the spinal cord
- most often done with an anterior approach
- bone graft may be taken from ASIS for fusion
- Wiring of vertebral bodies
- plates and screws
- Rods
Orthotic Management: Halo
- not as common
- able to be mobile but head and neck won’t move
- only used until spine heals post surgery. Generally 3 months
Orthotic Management:Cervical Orthoses
- Most common
- each limits movement and provides stability to a different extent
- Rarely comfortable
Orthotic Management: Thoracic and Lumbar orthoses
- frequently taken off in bed as long as person lays with head of bed