SCI Injuries Flashcards
Tetraplegia
- Impairment or loss of motor and/or sensory function (of all 4 limbs)
- Damage to the cervical segments
- Upper, lower extremities and trunk affected
Paraplegia
- Impairment or loss of motor or sensory function
- Damage to the thoracic, lumbar or sacral segments
- Lower extremities and/or trunk affected (paralysis of both legs)
- Can be used to refer to cauda equinq and conus medullaris injuries
Complete - SCI
= sensory & motor function in the lowest sacral segments ( s4-s5) abs post injury
ASIA scale : AIS A
Incomplete - SCI
Detectable residual sensory or motor function below NLi & specifically in the lowest sacral segment
ASIA sclae : AIS, B, C, D, E
Type of SCI - Contusion
Bruising, usually from trauma (25%-40%)
Type of SCI - Laceration
Severing or tearing, usually from fire weapons & knife wounds
Type of SCI - Solid
Axonal damage, through injury or demyelination
ASIA scale : A
= complete
No motor or sensory function preserved in the lowest segments (S4/5)
ASIA Scale : B
= sensory incomplete
Minor sensory deficit but no motor function preserved below NLI, including the lowest segments (S4/5)
ASIA scale : C
= motor incomplete
Sensory deficit. Motor function present below NLI, strengths of more than hal of the key muscles are grades < 3/5
ASIA Scale : D
= motor incomplete
Motor function present below NLI, strength of more than hald of the key muscles are graded > 3/5
ASIA Sclae : E
Motor & sensory functions in key muscles & dermatomes are normal
What’s a Spinal shock ?
= Loss of neurological activity below injury level
Duration of phase : 1 month to 1 year
Ends : Return from spinal reflexes (=hyperreflexia) = attemps of motor neurons to re-establish synapses
What’s a neurogenic shock?
= Hemodynamic csq of SCI
(usually = vasodilation, & incr. perfusion of lower extremities)
CCS = central cord syndrome
= type of incomplete SCI (9%)
- UL weakness
- Bladder dysfunction
- sensory loss
Due to hyperextension injuries in presence of stenosis or spondylosis
OR flexion compression injuries during high impact accident
BSS = Brown séquard syndrome
Due to hemi-lesion of SC due to trauma or vascular etiolmogy
Ipsilat :
- Loss of proprioception & touch sense
- Hypertonic paresis
Contralateral :
- Loss of pain & temp sense below injury level
ACS = Anterior cord syndrome = Beck’s syndrome
= traumatic SCI
Due to flexion injuries compromising ant spinal artery (occlusion)
- Complete motor paralysis (bilateral)
- Loss of p+ & temp sensation (bilateral)
- Light touch & proprioception preserved
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Bladder/Bowel/Sexual dysfunction
PCS = post cord syndrome
Due to compression of SC by disc or tumor, infection of post spinal artery
- Proprioception, vibration sens & two point discrimination sens lost below lesion
- motor function preserved
- p+ & temp sensation preserved
- bladder/bowel continence possible
Cauda equina syndrome
= damage to cauda equina involving lumbosacral nerve roots
Due to burst fracture of a lumbar vertebra or central herniated disc
- Lower MN syndrome (no spinal reflex)
- Paraesthesia in LL
- Loss of Bladder/bowel reflex
- Chronic LBP
CMS = Conus medullaris syndrome
Compressive damage from T12-L2 => UMNS & LMNSyndrome
Due to trauma or tumors
- Paraethesia in LL
- Loss of bladder/bowel reflex
- Chronic LBP
- Sacral reflexes might be preserved