SCI - Intro and Syndromes Flashcards
SCI goal for PT
Empower
Enable
Inspire
What is a complete injury
Sensory and motor are lost below the level of injury
What is an incomplete injury
So many different things can happen depending on the level and extent of the injury and how many tracks are affected.
This leads to how the patent presents
How do spinal cord injuries occur and what is the most common cause
Traumatic - 50%
other 50% is from non-traumatic
-myelopathies
(Disc herniation, spondylosis, neoplasms)
-circulatory compromise (CVA in SC)
-transverse myelitis (inflammation of the SC)
What are the most common risks of mortality for SCI (5)
- Respiratory
- Cardiac –> deconditioning
- Sepsis –> could have injuries that they are unaware of
- PE –> DVT
- Suicide –> from their condition
What level of SCI would you be totally ventilatory dependent
C3
What would people with a C4 to T1 injury have difficulty doing
Coughing –> aspiration
Have trouble with deep breathing because of intercostal muscles
What is a tetra or quadriplegic and what level
Uppers and lowers affected
T1? would have problems with hands
What is a paraplegic and what level
uppers are spared and lowers are affected
T6 and below
Where are the most vulnerable SC sites on injury
C5-6 (most common level of tetraplegia)
T4-7
T12-L1 (most common level of paraplegia)
What is a complete lesion
Spinal reflex function is present below the level of the lesion, but no ascending or descending influences are present
Is due to complete transection, compression or vascular impairment of the cord
What is a incomplete lesion
Some amount of sensory and/or motor function; includes the lowest sacral segments S4-5 sensory and motor innervation to the anus (sacral sparing)
Can be due to contusion, swelling in the spinal canal, or partial transection of the cord
Name 6 incomplete spinal cord syndromes
Anterior cord Central cord Posterior cord Brown-sequard (hemi cord) Conus Medullaris Cauda Equina
What is the most common incomplete syndrome
Anterior cord syndrome
How does anterior cord syndrome usually happen
Usually due to hyperflexion injury
Head-on collision in MVA
Blow to the back of the head
Common associated fx
Wedge fx of ant. vertebral body
Fx of posterior elements (SP, laminae and pedicles)
How would someone with anterior cord syndrome present
Loss of voluntary motor function
Damage to corticospinal
Loss of pain and temperature sensation
Damage to spinothalamic
Sparing of LT, proprioception & kinesthesia
Dorsal column is generally intact
What is spared with anterior cord syndrome
Dorsal column
- Proprioception
- Kinesthesia
- light touch