SCI (spinal Cord Injuries) Flashcards
Injuries in the cervical spine can affect what parts of the body? And what are those classified as?
All parts of the body due to the nerves that run from here. It’s classified as tetraplegia or quadriplegia.
Thoracic Or lumbar spinal chord injuries are classed as what?
Paraplegia.
Do spinal chord lesions affect the sensory and motor roots as well as the autonomic information that the brain and spinal chord helps to control.?
Yes depending on the extent of the lesion.
Most spinal chord injuries occur in what gender and age group, and as a result of what?
Male, under 30,s due to traumatic events.
What are the vulnerable areas of the spine?
C5-7
T12
T4-7
What are tetraplegia or quadriplegia spinal cord injuries and what is the difference between the two?
They are both impairment or loss of motor control and or sensory function in the cervical segments of the spinal cord. Tetraplegia is different as it affects all 4 limbs.
What is a paraplegic injury?
When there is loss or impairment of motor and or sensory function in the thoracic,lumbar, or sacral segments of the spinal chord therefor affecting trunk,legs and pelvis.
If a spinal chord injury is incomplete how can we normally tell?
Normally they will have bowl, bladder and sacral function.
If a complete lesion occurs what initially happens to the spine before gradual recovery?
Spinal shock occurs where no signal are sent.
What is autonomic dysreflexia?
An automatic increase in blood pressure that can be life threatening,
Symptoms include headaches.
Therefor we always monitor blood pressure.
What are some of the autonomic dysfunctions that patients may experience due to total transaction of the cord?
Impairment of vasomotor control, Postural hypotension, Autonomic dysreflexia, Problems with bladder and bowel function, Problems with sexual function,
What are the 4 types of incomplete spinal cord injuries?
Central cord syndrome,
Anterior cord syndrome,
Brown-sequard syndrome,
Cauda equina syndrome,
What is central cord syndrome?
Is often as a result of hyper extension of the spine Eg whiplash. It is where the centre of the spinal cord is damaged affecting the corticospinal and spinothalamic tracts. Therefore pain and temperature sensation is affected, motor control may be low and bladder dysfunction occurs a lot.
What is an anterior cord incomplete injury?
Damage to the anterior tracts normally due to disc herniation which causes motor paralysis, loss of pain and temperature sensation.
What is brown-sequard incomplete injury?
Often result of stab wounds or gun wounds, causing motor deficit and numbness on that side aswell as loss of pain and temperature sensation on the opposite side.
