SCI Part II EXAM 1 Flashcards
Laundry list of 2* Complications of SCI
- press sores
- HO
- Osteoporosis
- syringomyelia
- autonomic dysreflexia
- RSD
- OH
- altered thermoreg
- DVT/PE
- pain
- Resp dysf.
- contractures
- spasticity
- B&B dysf.
- altered sexual function
Single greatest factor leading to INC in hospital LOS and $$$
Pressure sores aka Decubitus Ulcer
Pressure Sores…. aka what?
due to what?
- Decubitus ulcers
- combo of anasthesia w/ pressure/and shearing forces
- ****MAJOR SOURCE MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY
Pressure Sores
What can cause them?
- Poor B&B control
- skin maceration (like pruny fingers)
- Hypertonia
- shearing– skin breakdown
- trauma
- # tapeburns
- Nutritional deficiencies or comorbidities delay healing
***See O’Sullivan table 20.3***
Pressure sores… what is @ risk?
ANY WBing part of body
* calcaneous
* lat. malleolus
Pressure sores…. the best tx is…
PREVENTION
*pos changes q hour
NOTE: q= every
* Sitting pressure releases q 15mins
*need entire rehab team on this!!!!!
Heterotopic Ossification (HO)
What is it?
- Abnormal dev. of BONE below lvl of SC lesion
-
usually in soft tissues
-
surrounding joints
- w/ SCI–> hips/knee
-
surrounding joints
-
usually in soft tissues
HO is….
Extraarticular
Extracapsular
HO typ. occurs where?
@ hips/knees
MAY also occur shoulders, elbows, paravertebral area
*functional limits 20% pts
Predisposing Factors for HO
- COMPLETE lesions
- pressure sores
- hypERtonicity
- C/S–mid T/S lesions
- *Males 2x likely to dev. HO
Early s/s of HO may mimic what?
-
Thrombophlebitis
- warm, erythema, swelling, reduced ROM
- NO X-ray findings
-
elevated Alkaline Phosphates significant clinical finding
- ***New bony growth blood marker***
HO and ROM
acute vs. later phases
- Early research discourages ROM—> proven wrong!!!
- Acute phase== rest/gentle PROM
- Acute phase OVER== PROM and mobilization
HO @ its WORST….
Prevents safe and normal siting posture, transfers, interferes w/ preserved ROM and worsens hygiene problems due to B&B issues
Pharmacologic interventions HO
-
Prophylaxis—-beforehand
-
Indomethacin (NSAID) OR refecoxib (COX-3 inhibitor)
- reduce risk of developing HO
- radiation tx’s
-
Indomethacin (NSAID) OR refecoxib (COX-3 inhibitor)
-
For Tx:
-
Etidronate—- halts progression after dx
- early admin is key!!!
- radiation— slow/stop HO progress.
-
Etidronate—- halts progression after dx
Osteoporosis due to changes in……..
Ca metabolism
INC risk of THIS w/ Osteoporosis
also INC risk of _____ and ________
- INC risk patho fx
- no support
- no trauma
- just happens
- INC risk renal stones
- INC conc. of Ca in urinary system
Osteoporosis commonly tx’d w/
Biphosphates
Ex’s: Fosamax or Didronel
EARLY TX for Osteoporosis
Wt. Bearing Ex!!!!
Osteoporosis due to what?
Tx?
- due to immobility and disuse from lack of WBing BUT
- WBing w/out mm contraction USELESS
- Spasticity can prevent this
- Tx to INC mm contraction prevents this
- FES reasonable tx
Syringomyelia aka
Posttraumatic Cystic Myelopathy
What is Syringomyelia aka Posttraumatic Cystic Myelopathy?
- Dev. of fluid filled cyst in SC—-typ near lvl of injury
- sx’s WORSE as cyst ENLARGES
Syringomyelia aka Posttraumatic Cystic Myelopathy s/s:
- Sx’s include:
- PAIN
- local/radicular
- diff vs. deafferent dysesthesia
- local/radicular
- sensory changes
- weakness/mm atrophy
- hypOreflexia
- PAIN
- NOTE: develops in 3% all SCI pts
-
8% incidence in comp. tetraplegia pts
-
can occur ANYTIME post injury
- mo’s—-decades
-
can occur ANYTIME post injury
-
8% incidence in comp. tetraplegia pts
Dx of Syringomyelia?
History THEN MRI
Tx Syringomyelia:
- Surgical
- laminectomy/drainage
- syringoperitoneal OR syringosubarachnoid shunting
- outcomes mixed
- some surgeons NO operate if only sensory symptoms w/out motor changes
What should you remember about Autonomic Dysreflexia/Hyperreflexia???
IT IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Autonomic Dysreflexia is a syndrome that affects indiv’s w/ what kind of SCI?
T6 or higher SCI******
Autonomic Dysreflexia occurance?
- Affects indiv’s w/ T6 or higher SCI
- occurs due to uncontrolled autonomic outflow
-
Causes:
- SEVERE HTN
- HR changes
- severe sweating and flushing
- severe HA
- piloerection (gooseys)
- shivering
-
Causes:
- Consequences can be lethal!!!
- occurs due to uncontrolled autonomic outflow
- AUTONOMIC DYSREFLEXIA IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY
MASSIVE, uncompensated, CV rxn of the sympathetic NS to a noxious stimulus below the lvl of the SCI lesion resulting in marked HTN
Autonomic Dysreflexia
*They have sensory loss, so cannot feel noxious stim but still get the signals that it’s there
What is going on w/ Autonomic Dysreflexia
why can pt not feel the normal signals?
Normal signs from the carotid sinus and to lower peripheral resistance are unable to pass the injured area of the SC
Persistence of HTN assoc’d w/ Autonomic Dysreflexia can be Fatal
causing….
Stroke
Cardiac Arrest
Seizures
Autonomic Dysreflexia
What to do if it’s happening?
- have the pt Sit UP
- Remember….they have HIGH BP so this will REDUCE BP
- Search for the offending noxious stimulus
-
The trigger
-
pain stimulus below SCI person cannot perceive
- blocked catheter (often)
- bedsore
- restrictive clothes
-
pain stimulus below SCI person cannot perceive
-
The trigger
- Take (and note) BP
Why should we TAKE and NOTE BP in someone w/ Autonomic Dysreflexia?
People w/ SCI can have normal systolic pressures of 90-100
so a BP of 140/80 could indicate significant HTN for them!
Autonomic Dysreflexia
What to do if you try to remove the stimulus but this does not work?
- IF BP does NOT come down after this….
- catheterization
- IF still no drop in BP
- medical or surgical intervention
Address Autonomic Dysreflexia IMMEDIATELY
MEDICAL EMERGENCY!!!!
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) OR aka
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
**P. nerve injuries mostly**
CRPS or RSD occurance
small # SCI pts
CRPS or RSD likelihood?
INC’s in neurological lvl is at or near lvl of injury
**HIGHER injury==more likely
MAY cause INC in abnormal sensory discharge/responsiveness
CRPS/RSD
where is pain?
what is spared?
- Typified by PAIN @ fingers or hand WITH shoulder or scapular pain
- Forearm or elbow spared
CRPS or RSD
Sympathetic vasomotor changes
Red, taut, glossy skin and trophic nailbed changes
CRPS or RSD pain cycle
leads to cycle of immobilization and stiffness
demineralization of bone
When will we normally see OH? (Orthostatic HypOtension)
What pos changes?
Supine –> sit
Sit—> stand
OH results from loss of what?
Loss of SNS influences that control vasoconstriction
Basically….not enough volume of blood to maintain BP
____________ combined w/ __________ and _________ leads to __________ w/ OH
LE vasodilation combined w/ loss of mm pump and prolonged bed rest leads to venous stasis (stoppage or pooling of blood)