SCI Syndromes Flashcards

1
Q

List SCI Syndromes

A
  1. Anterior Cord Syndrome
  2. Central Cord Syndrome
  3. Brown-Sequard Syndrome
  4. Cauda Equina
  5. Conus Medullaris Syndrome
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2
Q

what is the cause and common MOIs for anterior cord syndrome?

A
  1. Causes
    • damage to cord itself
    • damage to anterior spinal artery
    • all of the above
  2. Common MOI
    • flexion injuries
    • burst frxs
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3
Q

clinical presentation of anterior cord syndrome

A

Bilateraly loss of motor function and pain/temp below level of injury

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4
Q

T/F: medial lemniscus tracts are damaged with anterior cord syndrome

A

FALSE

they remain intact

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5
Q

what is the most common SCI syndrome?

A

central cord syndrome

9% of all traumatic SCI injuries

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6
Q

what is central cord syndrome?

A

damage to central aspect of spinal cord

occurs almost exclusively as a cervical injury

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7
Q

Central Cord syndrome is more common in what populations/age groups?

A
  1. Elderly → prior spondylosis or stenosis
    • typically due to extension injury
    • often results with relatively minor trauma, often w/o vertebral trauma
  2. Younger populations → flexion + compression
    • +vertebral trauma
    • herniated disc
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8
Q

clinical presentation of central cord syndrome

A
  1. UE >> LE involvement
  2. sparing sacral sensation, may have sparing of sacral motor
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9
Q

describe why central structures may be injuried with central cord syndrome

A

2 different hypotheses:

  1. severe extension moment crunches center of cord causing more necrosis
  2. general extension movements invovled in injury may result in specific pattern of ischemia, necrosis and edmea that doesn’t travel to the periphery
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10
Q

what is brown-sequard syndrome?

A

damage to only one side of the cord

relatively uncommon (1-4% of traumatic SCIs)

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11
Q

what are some potential causes of brown-sequard syndrome?

A

knife or gunshot wound

resulting in hemi-section or incomplete injury

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12
Q

clinical presentation of brown-sequard syndrome

A

depends on level of injury but generally:

  1. ipsilateral motor and dorsal column symptoms
    • motor
    • touch, proprioception, 2-pt discrimination
  2. contralateral anterolateral pathway symptoms
    • pain and temperature
  3. ipsilateral spasticity common below level of lesion
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13
Q

how common is posterior cord syndrome?

A

extremely rare (<1% of traumatic SCIs)

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14
Q

cause of posterior cord syndrome

A

results from

  1. compression by disc or tumor
  2. PSA infarct
  3. vitamin B12 deficiency
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15
Q

clinical presentation and prognosis for posterior cord syndrome

A
  1. dorsal column lost bilaterally below level of lesion
  2. motor and pain/temp preserved
  3. prognosis → typically respond well to rehab
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16
Q

Prognosis for anterior cord syndrome

A
  1. Extremely poor for
    • bowel and bladder function
    • hand function
    • ambulation
  2. 10-20% chance of motor recovery
    • even with those with some recovery, demo poor power and coordination
17
Q

Prognosis for central cord syndrome

A
  1. Most ppl will regain some level of ambulatory function
    • becomes more disproportionate w/older pts (90% vs 41%)
  2. >50% will recover bowel and bladder control
  3. Intrinsic hand function last to return
    • <50% may demo return of hand function
18
Q

List postive prognostic factors for central cord syndrome

A
  1. good hand function
  2. evidence of early motor recovery
  3. young age
  4. absense of spasiticity
  5. pre-injury employment
  6. absence of LE neurologic motor impairment at rehab admission
19
Q

Prognosis ffor brown-sequard syndrome

A
  1. generally very good
  2. nearly all pts will attain some level of ambulatory function
  3. 80% regain hand function
  4. 100% regain bladder control, 80% bowel control
20
Q

list the general mechansim of each SCI syndrome

A
  1. Anterior → flexion or vasculature
  2. Central → forced hyperextension
  3. Brown-Sequard → penetrating trauma
21
Q

brief clinical description of Anterior Cord Syndrome

A
  1. complete loss of motor, pain, and temp below injury
  2. retains proprioception and vibratory sensation
  3. Prognosis → POOR
22
Q

brief clinical description of Central Cord Syndrome

A
  1. Sensory and motor deficit UE >> LE
  2. Prognosis → AVERAGE
23
Q

brief clinical description of Brown-Sequard Syndrome

A
  1. Ipsilateral loss of motor, vibration, and proprioception
  2. Contralateral loss of pain, and temp
  3. Prognosis → GOOD
24
Q

what is conus medullaris syndrome?

A

damage to sacral cord and lumbar nerve roots

25
Q

common causes of conus medullaris syndrome

A
  1. trauma
  2. tumors
  3. infections
  4. stenosis
26
Q

Conus Medullaris symptoms

A
  1. Symmetrical saddle anesthesia - more localized perianal
  2. Symmetrical weakness/flaccidity
  3. possible hypertonicity
  4. Distal LE (ankle) areflexia
  5. Sexual dysfunction
  6. Mild LBP w/potential mild radicular symptoms
    • more pain noted in perianal region
  7. Bowel and bladder dysfunction
    • typically urinary retention and atonic anal sphincter
27
Q

T/F: you may see intact sacral reflexes in Conus Medullaris Syndrome

A

TRUE

28
Q

Conus Medullaris Syndrome Treatment

A

surgical decompression

29
Q

what is cauda equina syndrome?

A

injury below L1 to lumbosacral roots of peripheral nerves

making this a LMN INJURY

**the spinal cord is spared

30
Q

common causes of cauda equina syndrome

A
  1. lumbar burst frx
  2. herniated disc

can be acute or chronic presentation

31
Q

T/F: incomplete lesions in cuada equina syndrome are rare

A

FALSE

they are common since damage to nerve roots is highly variable

32
Q

Cauda Equina Symptoms

A

can be gradual onset or acute

  1. Common triad
    • asymmetrical saddle anesthesia
    • bowel and/or bladder dysfunction
    • asymmetrical LE weakness
  2. variable sensory loss
  3. flaccid paralysis, areflexia
    • including loss of sacral reflexes
  4. flaccid paralysis of bowel and bladder
  5. severe LBP, often with severe radicular pain
33
Q

treatment for cauda equina syndrome

A

surgical decompression

34
Q

T/F: there may be nerve regeneration with cauda equina syndrome

A

TRUE

however regeneration is often incomplete

tends to plateau after 1 year

35
Q

Prognosis for cauda equina syndrome

A
  1. bladder outcomes worsen the longer the cauda equina is compressed
  2. prognosis improves when surgery occurs within 48 hours of initial presentation
  3. due to potential for regeneration, more favorable prognosis for functional recovery compared to UMN SCI syndromes
36
Q

Prognosis for conus medullaris syndrome

A
  1. similar prognostic indicators as cauda equina but since UMN involvment, the prognosis is less favorable
    • 10% regain function