Spinal Cord Compression Flashcards
what are the common cause of acute spinal cord compression
trauma
tumours (most common)
infection (TB)
spontaneous haemorrhage
what are the common causes of chronic spinal cord compression
Degenerative disease – spondylosis
Tumours
Rheumatoid Arthritis
in a complete lesion of the spinal cord what is affected
all motor and sensory modalities
what happens initially after a cord transection
flaccid arreflexic paralysis “Spinal Shock”
- low muscle tone, absent reflexes
what appears later on after spinal compression
UMN signs
what type of injury is an injury to the spinal cord
upper motor neurone injury
what are the distinct symptoms of Brown-Sequard syndrome (i.e. cord hemisection)
Ipsilateral motor level - weakness of side of injury
Ipsilateral Dorsal Column sensory level - loss of sensation of side of injury
Contralateral spinothalamic sensory level - loss of pain and temp on the other side
what are causes of central cord syndrome
Hyperflexion or extension injury to already stenotic neck
Sx of central cord syndrome
Distal upper limb weakness
“Cape-like” spinothalamic sensory loss - lose a few dermatomes
what is preserved in central cord syndrome
Lower limb power
Dorsal columns
who is most likely to get central cord syndrome
> 50y/o with OA in the neck or with cervical spondylosis
how does chronic spinal cord compression differ from acute
Same as acute except upper motor neurone signs predominate
what are the common extradural tumours that can cause spinal cord compression
usually metastasis: lung
breast
kidney
prostate
what are the intra-dural tumours that cause spinal cord compression
Extramedullary: meningioma, Schwannoma
Intramedullary: Astrocytoma, Ependymoma
what leads to spinal canal stenosis
osteophyte formation
bulging of intervertebral discs
facet joint hypertrophy
subluxation
