Spinal Cord Injuries

Question 1

What can an spinal lesion(injury) impact?

Answer 1

A spinal cord lesion may impair motor, sensory and autonomic functions dependent on the extent and level of the lesion

Question 2

What are the two main types of SCI and give a cause of each?

Answer 2

Traumatic eg. RTA and nontraumatic eg. tumour

Question 3

What is Tetraplegia and Paraplegia?

Answer 3

Tetraplegia or Quadraplegia:

• loss of motor control or sensory function in cervical segments of the cord
• Tetraplegia affects all four limbs

Paraplegia:

• loss of motor control or sensory function in thoracic, lumbar or sacral segments of the cord
• Depending on level of injury, trunk, legs and pelvis may be involved

Question 4

What is the difference between complete and incomplete spinal cord lesions?

Answer 4

Complete spinal cord lesions:
-Complete loss of function below the point of injury

Incomplete spinal cord lesions:

• Some sparing of neural activity below the level of the lesion
• Incomplete lesions now more common 55% - 65%

Question 5

Describe the four main types of spinal cord injury

Answer 5

1. Central cord syndrome – hyperextension of the neck with whiplash affecting the motor functions in the UL,
2. Anterior cord – disc prolapse pressing on the anterior cord affecting motor function, pain and temperature,
3. Brown-Sequard – stab or gunshot wound to one side of cord affecting motor and sensation on one side and pain and temp on the other and
4. Cauda Equina syndrome – affecting the base of the spine affecting the peripheral nerves rather than the spinal cord as the cord changes into the peripheral nerves at L1 leading to pain, sensory and motor deficit.