Pathophysiology & Management of Spinal Cord Injuries

Question 1

Causes of Spinal Injuries

Answer 1

• Most often caused by physical trauma.
• Cars, contact sports, assault, falls and alcohol
• Males 4x more likely to have spinal cord trauma
• 10-20% of head injury have a concurrent C-Spine injury
• Approximately 30% have other spinal injuries
• Neurological deficit seen in roughly 30%
• Half occur at C6 or C7 whilst 30% in C2
• In children, C1-C2 more likely to be injured in view of having a heavier heads with lax ligaments

Question 2

forces involved in Mechanisms of Injury

Answer 2

• Hyperflexion (forward movement of the head)
• Hyperextension (backward movement)
• Lateral stress (sideways movement)
• Rotation (twisting of the head)
• Compression (force along the axis of the spine downward from the head or upward from the pelvis)
• Distraction (pulling apart of the vertebrae)

Question 3

Flexion Injuries

• Fractures
• Dislocations

Question 4

Extension Injuries

• Fractures
• Dislocations

Question 5

list some Cord Injuries

Answer 5

1. Complete Cord Transection Syndrome
2. Brown-Séquard Syndrome
3. Anterior Cord Syndrome
4. Central Cord Syndrome
5. Posterior Cord Syndrome