Spinal Cord Compression

Question 1

What sensation is the spinothalamic tract associated with?

Answer 1

Coarse touch
Pain
Temperature

Question 2

A lesion affecting the spinothalamic tract will affect which side of the body?

Answer 2

Affects contralateral side since fibres decussate at spinal level

Question 3

What sensation is the dorsal column associated with?

Answer 3

Fine touch
Proprioception
Vibration

Question 4

A lesion affecting the dorsal column will affect which side of the body?

Answer 4

Affects ipsilateral side since fibres decussate at brainstem

Question 5

List some causes of acute spinal cord compression

Answer 5

Trauma
Tumours
Haemorrhage
Collapse
Infection

Question 6

List some causes of chronic spinal cord compression

Answer 6

Tumours
Degeneration (spondylosis)
Arthritis

Question 7

How would a complete cord transection present?

Answer 7

Motor and sensory loss below level of lesion

Upper motor neurone signs appear later

Question 8

Which part of the spinal cord is affected in Brown-Sequard syndrome?

Answer 8

Hemisection of the cord
Ipsilateral motor and dorsal sensory level
Contralateral spinothalamic sensory level

Question 9

How would a central cord lesion present?

Answer 9

Distal upper limb weakness
Cape-like spinothalamic sensory loss
Lower limb power + dorsal column sensory preservation

Question 10

Tumours compression spinal cord are usually from metastases. True/False?

Answer 10

True

Question 11

Give examples of degenerative diseases causing spinal cord stenosis

Answer 11

Osteophyte impingement
Facet joint hypertrophy
Bulging intervertebral discs
Subluxation