Spinal Cord Compression Flashcards
What are the causes of acute spinal cord compression?
trauma; tumours- haemorrhage or collapse of vertebra; infection; spontaneous haemorrhage
What are the causes of chronic spinal cord compression?
degenerative disease-spondylosis; tumours and RA
What is cord transection?
complete lesion- all motor and sensory modalities affected
What is spinal shock?
initially a flaccid arreflexic paralysis
When do UMN signs appear after cord transection?
later after spinal shock
What is seen with Brown-Sequard syndrome?
ipsilateral motor and DC level; contralteral spinothalamic sensory level
What causes central cord syndrome?
hyperflexion or extension injury to already stenotic neck
What are the signs of central cord syndrome?
predominantly distal upper limb weakness; cape-like spinothalamic sensory loss
Why are the upper limbs afffect more than the lower limbs?
upper limb areas are found more medial to the lower limb tracts
What is the difference between chronic and acute spinal cord compression?
UMN signs predominate inchronic spinal cord compression
What is the usually extradural tumour?
usually metastasis
Where are the common primaries for bone tumours?
lung; breast; kidney and prostate
What are the common intradural extramedullary tumours?
meningioma; schwannoma;
What are the common intradural intramedullary tumours?
astrocytoma; ependymoma
What happens in spinal stenosis?
osteophyte formation; bulging of IV discs; facet joint hypertrophy; subluxation
