Spinal Cord Compression Flashcards
What is confusing about the neurological exam findings in acute spinal cord compression?
Initially can cause weakness due to spinal shock not the typical spasticity and UMN signs
What are common cancers that send off boney mets?
Lung
Breast
Prostate
Kidney
Thyroid
Lymphoma
Myeloma
At what level is the T4 dermatome?
Nipple
What are the pathology that cause spinal cord compression?
Malignancy - primary or met
Degenerative - disc prolapse, osteoporosis, spondylosis
Infection
Haematoma
Developmental
What is Brown-Seqard syndrome?
Contralateral reduction in pain and temperature sensation
Ipsilateral reduction in power, light touch, and vibration
What is the classic presentation of a cervical myelopathy?
LMN signs in UL
Spastic paraparesis (UMN signs) in LL
How is degenerative spinal canal stenosis surgically managed?
Posterior - Laminectomy
Anterior - Discectomy
- Vertebraectomy
What is the most common location of spinal abscesses?
Thoraco-lumbar
At what level is the T10 dermatome?
Umbilicus
What is spondylosis?
Denegerative changes to vertebrae that is typically secondary to OA
What is the most common cause of a cervical myelopathy?
Degenerative cervical canal stenosis
How does spinal cord compression typically present?
New back/neck pain
+ a neurological deficit
What needs to be ilicited on Hx for spinal cord compression?
Characterise the pain
Characterise any neurological deficit
Systemic symptoms
PHx - cancer, diabetes
Trauma
Bone health
From which compartments can compression of the spinal cord come from?
Extradural (80%)
Intradural/extramedullary (15%)
Intramedullary (5%)
What is the cause of neurological deficits in degenerative cervical canal stenosis?
Direct pressure on spinal cord
Ischaemia of neural structures
