SCI Flashcards
5 risk factors that qualify a patient for 12 weeks (rather than normal 8 weeks) of DVT prophylaxis?
long bone fx, cancer, advanced age, obesity, heart failure
About what percentage of SCI patients with complete injury are able to achive ejaculation?
15% (a little higher with LMN vs UMN)
At what level does the spinal cord end?
L1
common site for osteoporotic fracture in SCI patients?
distal femur
describe posterior cord injury
injury to dorsal columns causing loss of light touch/proprioception and impaired ambulation
Diameter of absolute stenosis in the spinal canal
less that 10mm
Does likelihood of pregnancy after SCI change?
No, fertility is unimpaired
Extradural spinal tumors are commonly metastases from what three areas of the body?
lung, breast, and prostate
female fertility after SCI
normal menstruation returns in 6-12 months so long-term fertility is unaffected
gold standard to dx pulmonary embolism
pulmonary arteriogram
How can you tell the difference between autonomic dysreflexia and preeclampsia?
- AD symptoms occur with contraction of the uterus and normalize with relaxation of the uterus
- Preeclampsia is associated with protein in the urine, elevated uric acid, elevated LFTs, and decreased platelets
How does Brown-Sequard syndrome present?
ipsilateral loss of motor function, light touch/proprioception and contralateral loss of pain and temperature
How does cauda equina differ from conus medullaris syndrome?
Cauda equina is asymmetric, areflexia/hyporefleic, and can involve lumbar roots
How does cauda equina present?
- Lower motor neuron lesions of lumbosacral nerve roots
- Asymmetric flacid paralysis and sensory loss in nerve root distributions
- Areflexic bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction
- Positive EMG findings
How does conus medullaris syndrome present?
- UMN or mixed UMN/LMN lumbosacral lesions
- saddle distribution sensory loss
- possible bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction
- Normal EMG unless S1 or S2 involvement
How does level of injury affect the ability of SCI patients to have an erection?
- T9 and above: reflexogenic intact, psychogenic lost
- T12 and below: psychogenic intact, reflexogenic lost
- S2-4: reflexogenic impossible, psychogenic greatly reduced
How does subacute combined degeneration present?
insidious onset of sensory symptoms followed bilateral spastic paresis of lower limbs
how does syringomyelia present in the setting of SCI?
insidious onset of ascending loss of reflexes, burning pain worse with sitting or valsalva
How is baclofen cleared from the body?
renally (use lower doses in CKD)
How is diazepam cleared from the body?
hepatically (use lower doses in liver disease)
How long does it take for resolution of areflexic bladder seen in patients with spinal shock?
2 - 12 weeks
In general, are prophylactical antibiotics to treat UTIs in SCI patients indicated?
No
leading cause of death in acute SCI?
pulmonary embolism
leading cause of death in chronic SCI?
pneumonia
leading cause of death in paraplegia?
heart disease
male fertility after SCI
decreased due to poor semen quality and impaired erections
mechanism of action of baclofen
GABA B agonist
mechanism of action of botulinum toxins
the toxin will cleave proteins needed for Ach vesicle fusion with the presynaptic membrane. Depending on the form of toxin, it will cleave syntax, synaptobrevin, or SNAP-25.
mechanism of action of dantrolene
binds to ryanodine receptor on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) to inhibit calcium influx from SR in to cell.
mechanism of action of diazepam
GABA A agonist (Cl channel activator)
Mechanism of action of mirabegron?
Beta-3 agonist causing bladder relaxation
mechanism of action of mirabegron?
beta-3 agonist to cause bladder relaxation
mechanism of action of tamsulosin?
alpha-1 blocker causing internal sphincter relaxation
mechanism of action of tizanidine
alpha-2 agonist (inhibits spinal reflex arc)
Mneumonic for remembering Gaba receptor agonist and ion channels
- CLACK
- Gaba A: increase presynaptic Cl into neuron
- Gaba B1: increase presynaptic Ca2+ into neuron
- Gaba B2: increase postsynaptic K out of the neuron
most commmon cause of emergency abdominal surgery in chronic SCI patients?
cholecystitis
most common cause of death in acute SCI
pulmonary embolism
Most common cause of SCI?
MVC
most common level for central cord with hyperextension of the c-spine?
C4-C5
most common level for cervical compression fracture with flexion and axial load?
C5
most common level of injury of paraplegia?
T2
most common level of SCI
C5
most common presentation of myelopathy?
gait disturbance followed by UE paresthesias, decreased fine motor coordination, and hand weakness
most common presenting sign of syringomyelia in SCI patient?
ascending loss of deep tendon reflexes
Most common site for heterotopic ossification in SCI patients?
Hip
Most common site for pressure injuries in children?
occiput
Most common site for pressure injuries in SCI patients?
sacrum
most common presenting symptom of syringomyelia in SCI patient
aching/buring pain worse with coughing or straining
most common timing of DVT related to SCI
in the first two weeks
most common to least common type of SCI
incomplete tetra, incomplete para, complete para, complete tetra
most common type of multiple sclerosis
relapsing-remitting
Most common type of neurogenic bladder seen in SCI?
DSD (detrusor-sphincter-dyssynergia)
What are the key muscles and their root level for the ASIA exam?
What are key sensory points for the ASIA exam?
onset, peak, and duration of action of botox
3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months
Pressure injury staging
- nonblanchable erythema 2. into dermis 3. through dermis 4. muscle, tendon, or bone exposed
Receptor type in bladder wall that allow for contraction?
ACh
Receptor type in bladder wall that allows for relaxation?
Beta-2