Lumbar Spinal Cord Injury (Chronic)

Question 1

AETIOLOGY

Common causes

Answer 1

• Initial injury usually due to compression from space occypying lesion or physical trauma

Question 2

AETIOLOGY

Risk factors

Answer 2

• Spinal cord trauma or ischaemia
• Higher level spinal cord lesion
• Narrow spinal canal
• Extremes of age

Question 3

CLINICAL FEATURES

Signs

Answer 3

UMN signs

Question 4

MANAGEMENT

General principles

Answer 4

• Physiotherapy and mobilisation
• Bladder management
• Bowel management programme
• Pain management
• Treatment underlying cause