Spinal Cord Flashcards
What radiculomedullary artery supplies the lower 2/3 of the spinal cord?
Artery of Adamkiewicz, a t10 or l1 radicular artery
Identify the supply to the ff 1 cervical cord 2 thoracic cord 3 lumbar cord 4 sacral cord
1 subclavian and vertebral
2 and 3 segmental a from aorta and internal iliac a
4 lateral sacral arteries
What supplies the ventral anterior 2/3 of the spinal cord?
Anterior median spinal artery
What is the network of valveless veins that extend along the vertebral column from the pelvic venous plexuses to the intracranial venous sinuses
Batsons plexus
Spinal cord infractions is what percent of all stroke?
1.2%
What diseases of the aorta causes spinal cord infarction?
Advanced atherosclerosis
Dissecting aneurysm
Intra operative surgical occlusion
Except in high cervical lesions what type of sensory loss is expected for anterior spinal artery territory infarct ions?
Dissociated sensory loss
T or F MRI of the dc after infarction is usually normal after the first hour or day
T
A few days later edema shows by t2
What percent of thoracoabdomonal aneurysm operations result in paraplegia?
5-10%
What are the 4 causes of hematomyeli?
Anticoagulants
Avm
Blood dyscrasia
Trauma
What are the 3 types of vascular malformations of the spinal cord?
Intra medullary
Perimedullary
Dural THE MOST COMMON
What are the most colon initial symptoms and dural avf?
Imbalance
Numbness
Paresthesia
Caisson disease usually affects which part of the spinal cord?
Upper thoracic spinal cord
What is the characteristic picture of the Csf of spinal subdural hemorrhage?
Yellow brown spinal fluid resulting motor oil
NB NO SIGNS OF MYELOPATHY APPEAR IN SPINAL SUBDURAL HEMORRHAGE
What form of spinal injury is most common?
3 fracture dislocations > 1 pure fracture > 1 pure dislocation
What kind of spinal injury results in damage on the laminae, pedicles, anterior longitudinal ligament usually on the midcervical vertebrae C4-C6?
Hyperextension injuries
Sometimes x-rays or CT demonstrates no apparent dislocation but spinal cord damage is apparent by PE. Why is this? Especially in hyperextension injuries. What test can show the damage?
Spontaneous realignment can occur. Dynamic radiologic views with gentle flexion and extension demonstrates vertebral dislocation because the ligaments are already fucked up. Or MRI can demonstrate ligamentous rupture.
What are the 3 most common sites of vertebral injury?
C1-C2
C4-C6
T11-L2
Why is the thoracic cord not prone to injury?
- High articular facets make dislocation difficult
- Thoracic cage prevents much movement
- Canal is spacious
What syndrome is characterised by segmental weakness and sensory loss in the arms with a FEW long tract signs because of traumatic lesion restricted to the anterior and posterior gray matter
Schneider syndrome
Describe the pathology of cord injury 1h 4h 8h?
1h hemorrhages
4h spreading edema
8h necrosis
What is the usual range of time at which spinal shock can occur?
1-6 weeks
Identify the location of the spinal cord region damaged in :
A. Diaphragmatic paralysis
B. Tetraplegia
C. Paraplegia with abduction and flexion of arms
D. Paraplegia AND paralysis of the hands
A. C1-C3
B. C4-C5
C. C5-C6
D. C6-C7
Abolition in autonomics during spinal shock presents with?
Dependent edema
Dry pale ulcerated skin
Gastric and bowel atony – paralytic ileus
CONTRACTED sphincters but detrusor of the bladder and the rectum muscles become ATONIC – overflow incontinence
Loss of genital reflexes
What is the purported aetiology of spinal shock?
Abolished reticulospinal and vesitbulospinal reflexes
After the stage of spinal shock, what characterises the stage of heightened reflexes– autonomic dysreflexia
AUTONOMIC Dysreflexia
ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE LESION: Cutaneous flushing, pounding headache, hypertension, reflex bradycardia
Also heightened reflexes manifesting as Flexor spasms + triple flexion babinski Mass reflex movement Reflex "spinal" sweating
After how long do extensor responses usually follow flexor ones?
6M to 2Y
In a patient with post traumatic spinal injury, what is the probably cause of progressive deficits years after the event?
Post traumatic syrinx
What resting state of involved extremities (flexion or extension) is favoured by a high lesion?
Flexion
What type of spinal injury is most commonly associated with the Schneider syndrome?
Retroflexion
What are the 4 biggest threats to life in the first 10 days of SCI?
Gastric dilatation
Ileus
Shock
Infection
After 3 months mortality rate falls rapidly
Early or Transient radiation myelopathy occurs when?
3-6 months post radiation AS OPPOSED TO Delayed progressive radiation myelopathy that occurs AFTER 6 MONTHS usually between 12-15 months
How to differentiate delayed progressive radiation myelopathy to spinal mets?
INITIALLY NO PAIN with radiation myelopathy– usually presents with sensory symptoms followed by weakness or one or both legs
CSF of A. Delayed progressive radiation myelopathy B. Vacuolar myelopathy with AIDS C. Spinal epidural abscess D. Schistosomiaisis meningomyelitis E. Transverse myelitis F. Acute demyelinating myelitis of MS G. Devic disease
A. Normal except for elevated protein
B. Few Lymphocytes, slight protein elevation, bizarre giant cells
C. Few WBC both PMN and Lympho, high protein but NORMAL glucose
D. Slight CHON elevation Slight CHO decrease Lymphocytic pleocytosis
E. Lymphocytes, slight CHON elevation but Normal CHO, NO oligoclonal bands
F. Mild lymphocytosis with oligoclonal bands (that may be absent in the first attack)
G. Like F but NO oligoclonal
What is considered safe radiation doses?
< 6000 cGy given over 30-70 days
What are the two most important prognostic factors in electrical injuries of the SC?
Duration of contact
+
Resistance offered by the skin