SCI Flashcards
ASIA Scale: No motor or sensory function at S4-S5
A - Complete
ASIA Scale: Sensory, but no motor below. S4-S5 intact.
B- Sensory Incomplete
ASIA Scale: Motor function preserved below level and more than half of key muscle functions below neuro level of injury have muscle grade less than 3 (MMT= 0-2)
C- Motor Incomplete
ASIA Scale: Motor function preserved below neuro level and at least half of key muscle functions below the neuro level of injury have muscle grade above 3 (MMT= 3-5)
D- Motor Incomplete
Paraplegia
Thoracic, lumbar, sacral
Motor and/or Sensory impairments
Tetraplegia
Cervical (4 limbs, torso, organs)
Motor and/or Sensory impairments
Biggest cause of death in patients with SCI
Pneumonia (more in tetraplegia)
Septicema (pressure ulcer, UTI)
How is the level of injury named?
By the last intact muscle group and myotome
If patient fractured at C5/C6 and MMT = 3/5 at C7, what is the level of injury?
C7
Name 4 incomplete lesions
Anterior Cord Syndrome
Central Cord Syndrome
Brown-Sequard Syndrome
Cauda Equina Syndrome
Anterior Cord Syndrome
loss of function of ventral pathway + conservation of dorsal column
preservation of light touch, proprioception and deep pressure
absence of pain and motor function
Causes of Anterior Cord Syndrome
Anterior spinal artery infarction
Disc Herniation
Radiation myelopathy
How favorable is recovery with Anterior Cord Syndrome?
Not very. Less functional recovery
Central Cord Syndrome
affects medially located motor fibers that control UE function
UE weakness > LE weakness
sacral sparing
What would be difficult with Central Cord Syndrome? (2 examples)
Walking with walker
Getting out of bed
