SCI Flashcards
Descibe the levels of Spinal Cord injury.
Quadriplegia (Tetraplegia)
- Involvement of all 4 limbs
Paraplegia
- Involvement of LEs and trunk (depending on level)
Level of SCI
- Complete
- Designated by the region of injury and the last fully functioning neurologic segment in that region
- Example: C5= fifth segment of the cervical region is last level of full function
Partial
- Incomplete lesion results in partial function and partial preservation of the sensory or motor pathways below the level of the lesion
What is Spinal Shock?
Spinal Shock
- Occurs within 24 hrs, Lasts 4 to 6 weeks
- No reflexes below level of injury
- Deep tendon reflexes decrease
- Sympathetic function decrease
- Constriction of blood flow, low blood pressure, decreased heart rate, no perspiration below level of injury
- Bowel/ Bladder= atonic
- No reflexes below level of injury
What is spasticity?
Spasticity
- Follows Spinal Shock
- Develops because the monosynaptic reflex arc is intact but separated by the higher inhibitory influences
- Effects Deep Motor Reflex, Bowel/bladder, Sympathetic function
- Spinal reflex activity: mass muscle spasms below level of injury
- Effects LE muscle/abdominals
Bladder infections
- Catheters/Delayed or incomplete elimination
What are the secondary symptoms?
Decubitus ulcers
respiratory infections
osteoporosis
orthostatic hypotension
automonic dysreflexia
spasiticity
what are Decubitus ulcers?
Decubitus ulcers
- Kinetic bed, weight shifts, sensory education, proper transfers (no shearing), proper positioning, frequent repositioning, proper w/c cushions
- Stages
- Red
- Blanches when pressed
- No blanching when pressed
- Skin (tip of a cone)
What are respirtory infections and what can be done?
Respiratory infections
- Strengthening of SCM and diaphram
- Manual assisted cough, deep breathing exercises,
What are osteoporosis and orthostatic hypotension?
Osteoporosis
- Disuse of long bones
Orthostatic Hypotension
- Decreased BP when changing position
- Pooling of blood due to lack of muscle tone (LE and Abs)
- Sx: Dizziness, nausea, LOC with transitions from supine to sit
- Treatment
- Adjusting position
- Recline patient: Tip back chair
- Tilt table
- Abdominal binder
- Compression garments
- Medication
- Adjusting position
What is hyperreflexia?
Autonomic Dysreflexia (hyperreflexia)
- Occurs with SCI at or above T6
- Reflex action of the ANS to a stimulus (distended bladder, bladder infection, fecal mass, viceral distention, pain)
- Sx: Immediate pounding headache, anxiety, blurred vision perspiration, flushing, chills, nasal conjestion, paroxysmal hypertension and brachycardia
- MEDICAL EMERGENCY (Can lead to stroke – seek medical attention)
- Sit patient upright, remove restrictive clothing /abdominal binders/compression stocking to decrease blood pressure
- Drain bladder/check for obstruction in urine bag
- Monitor blood pressure
Autonomic dysreflexia?
What is spasticity?
Spasticity
- Gradually increase the first 6 months
- Plateau after first year
- Moderate spasticity
- Maintains muscle mass, increases circulation, can assist with bed mobility/transfers
- Sudden increase in spasticity can alert pt to a medical problem
- Bladder infection, fever, decubitus ulcer
- Severe treated with meds, botox, nerve blocks
- Moderate spasticity
- Decreased thermo regulation
- Difficulty swallowing
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Heterotrophic Ossification
- Bone develops in abnormal anatomic locations
- Sx: warm, swollen, decreased ROM
- May limit hip ROM, lead to pelvic assymetry, scoliosis, skin breakdown
Describe the levels C1-C5 muscles function and limitations of injury.
Describe C6-C8 level of injury
Describe T1-S5 level of injury
What are the key muscles of function for C1-S5?
Key Muscle Function
C1-3: Head and Neck
C4: Diaphram
C5:Elbow flexors, Deltoids
C6:Wrist extensors
C7:Elbow extensor
C8:Finger flexion
T1-T8: Chest muscles
T9-12:Abdominal muscles
L1-5:Leg muscles
L2: Hip flexors
L3:Knee extensors
S1-5: Bowel, bladder, and sexual function
Describe C1-C4
C1-3
Require Assist with almost all ADLs
Vent Dependent
Electronic Assistive Devices
- Mouth stick, voice activation
Sip and Puff Controls
Animal Assisted Therapy
C4
ADLs: Same as above
Can wean from vent
Increased head/neck control