Head and vertebrea Flashcards
Where is the most common site for vertebral trauma
C spine (55%)
When you find a c spine # what should you be mindful of that may have happened concomittantly
other vertebral #
What happens in neurogenic shock
the descending sympathetic fibres do not allow for a response meaning BP and HR will drop
What is the most common cause of death from injuries of C3 of above
apnea from lossof phrenic nerve innervation
What sort of # is commonly associated with T Spine
compression wedge
Why are T spine dislocations so severe
are almost always complete spinal cord injury
what is the difference in Px with complete and incomplete spinal cord injur
complete has NO movement or sensation
incomplete has some
What spinal tract deals with fine touch and proprioception
DCML
What level does the DCML innervate upper limbs
T6 and above
What level does the DCML innervate lower limbs
T7 and below
Where does the DCML dessucate what does this mean clinically
in the brainstem
means injury of spinal cord will cause IPSILATERAL symptoms
What spinal tract deals with pain and heat
spinothalamic
Where does the spinothalamic tract dessucate what does this mean clinically
ascending tract enters spinal cord
ascends two levels
dessicates inside vertebra
means injury is usually CONTRALATERAL
What does the corticospinal tract innervate
Motor / power
There are 2 parts to the corticospinal tract the lateral and the medial aspect
where does the lateral level dessicate what does this mea clinically
in brainstem
injury = ipsilateral sx (of lower body)
There are 2 parts to the corticospinal tract the lateral and the medial aspect
where does the medial level dessicate what does this mean clinically
dessicuated at C/T level
unlless very high up injury of spinal tract
ipsilateral sx (of upper body)
What is spinal shock
loss of muscle tone and reflexes that changes to spacticity over time
What might inconsistent/assymetrical or strange distribution of symptoms mean in spinal cord injry
incomplete spinal cord injry or developems of oedema causing sx
what is a chance fracture
unstable flexion distension injury usually high impact like rtc is common with visceral injury
pt has penetrating would to back:
motor loss ipsilaterally fine
touch loss ipsitalerally
contralaterall pain and gross touch loss
what is this called
brown sequard
pt has loss of motor strength more in upper than lower body with varying degrees of sensory loss
what is this injury called
central cord syndrome
pt has motor and sensory paraplegia and loss of pain and temp what is this called
anterior cord dyndrome
how do you determine spinal level
caudally the spinal level with M power of 3
how do you determine neurological level
the spinal level with has normal M+S function
what vertebra is usually most unstable if injured
c1 atlas
what c spine injury is most common
c5
what mechanism usually causes anterior wedge fractures in T spine
axial compression
what mechanism usually causes burst # fractures in T spine
vertical axial
what mechanism usually causes chance fractures in T spine
improperly laced lap belts
