SCI Flashcards
Impairment or loss of sensory &/or motor function in the cervical segments of the spinal cord
Tetraplegia
Impairment or loss of sensory &/or motor function in the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral segments of the spinal
Paraplegia
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31
Vascular supply of Spinal cord
1 anterior spinal artery
2 posterior spinal artery
What causes compression traction or transection of spinal cord
Trauma
90% of traumatic injuries occur when the neck is
Flexed.
Occurs immediately after Traumatic SCI
Spinal shock
Causes of SCI?
Inflammation/infection
Disruption of blood supply
Other (neoplasm,spinal stenosis)
AIS motor testing is
Myotomes
AIS sensory testing is
Dermatomes
AIS sensory testing used for
Determining complete vs. incomplete injury
Rectal exam needed for
Determination of incomplete injury
DAP
Deep anal pressure
What determines conus integrity
Bulbocavernosus reflex
ASIA A is
Complete (worst
ASIA B
Incomplete.
Sensory but not motor presevered
ASIA C
Incomplete
50% MMT <3
ASIA D
Incomplete
MOTOR preserved
> 50% norm
ASIA E
Normal
AIS classification of complete
Loss of sensory and motor function.
Most common incomplete injury
Central cord syndrome
Lesion to half a spinal cord
Brown sequard syndrome
Injury to ant 2/3 of sc
Anterior cord
Injury to sacral cord
Conus medullaris
Injury to lumbosacral nerve
Cauda equina
Goals on mgmt of SCI
Align column
Remove pressure on SC
ORIF most often done
Anteriorly
When chest moves in instead of out during inhalation?
Paradoxical breathing
Acute, life threatening, syndrome of uncontrolled, massive reflex sympathetic discharge
Autonomic dysreflexia
Autonomic dysreflexia is
A MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Abnormal bone formation in the soft tissue and around joints
Heterotopic ossification
For every 20-30 of sitting, weight shift for
1 minute
In bed, roll every
2 hours
5 things that take place 2ndary to SCI?
Ischemia/hypoxia Biochemical cell death Demyelination Edema Scarring
In terms of skin, SI pts have an increased risk of
Burns
–A fall in blood pressure resulting from a change in position towards upright
Orthostatic hypotension
How long does paralytic ileus last?
5-7 days post injury
•“Pain that arises from actual or threatened damage to non-neural tissue and is caused by the activation of nociceptors
Nociceptive pain
Pain arising as a direct consequence of a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system
Neuropathic pain
When a cavity forms within spinal cord (cyst)
Syrinx formation
FOR ROM patients will neeed _____ and ____ to enhance function
Great rom
Mild tightness
In absence if elbow extension, pt uses
Shoulder ER
Full supination needed in order to
Lock elbows into ext. in weight bearing
DO NOT over stretch ..
Long finger flexors
