Spinal Cord Injury Flashcards
Whats the leading cause of SCI in people under 65?
MVA (overall this is probably most people, 50%)
Whats the leading cause of SCI in people over 65?
Falls (20%)
What caused about 18% of SCI cases?
Sports and recreation
Non-Traumatic Stroke
Spinal stroke, blood flow to spine gets blocked = tissue damage, tumor
Spinal Concussion
Sudden, violent jolt injures the tissues around the cord. Usually temporary and goes away in a few hours.
Spinal Contusion
Causes bleeding to occur in the spinal column. The pressure from the bleeding can kill neurons. (injury of SC is secondary to bleeding)
Spinal Compression
Object (i.e. tumor) puts pressure on the spinal cord.
Shearing/Tearing of SC
Torn by some type of injury, neurons are also damaged.
Completely Cut SC
Spinal cord is dissected
Other causes of SCI
Infection, Vascular malformations, vertebral subluxations, cysts on SC, MS/ALS, disc/vertebral degeneration in neck
Ratio of those at risk
Males more likely than females 4:1
What percentage of SCI occurs from 16-30 y.o.?
51.6%
Mean Age for traumatic SCI
39 y.o.
Mean Age for non-traumatic SCI
55 y.o.
Distribution of SCI
Cervical 51%
Throacic 35%
Lumbosacral 10%
Types of injury
Compression Fx, Burst Fx, Subluxation, Dislocation, Fracture Dislocation
Tetraplegia
i.e. Quadriplegia
Paralysis of all four extremities and trunk
Paraplegia
Paralysis of all or part of the trunk and both LE
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
Preserved anal sensation in S4-5 dermatome (light touch/sharp dull)
Motor Incomplete injury
Preserved voluntary anal sphincter contraction
MOST to LEAST frequent Incomplete Injuries
Incomplete tetra
Complete para
Complete tetra
Incomplete para
Vertebral lesion level
Anatomical injury at the vertebrae –> not referring to that nerve root necessarily. (T5 vertebral burst Fx)
Neurological Lesion Level
Most caudal level of the SC with NORMAL motor AND sensory function on BOTH the R&L sides of the body
Motor Lesion Level
Most caudal level of the SC with NORMAL motor function (can be rated separately from sensory)
Sensory Lesion Level
Most caudal level of the SC with NORMAL sensory function (can be rated separately from motor)
Sensory Test Grades
0 = Absent 1 = Altered 2 = Intact
How many sensory points on ASIA?
28, LT & PP at each point
How many key motor?
10
ASIA Motor Muscle Grading 0
Total Paralysis
ASIA Motor Muscle Grading 1
Palpable/Visible contraction
ASIA Motor Muscle Grading 2
Active movement, full range gravity elim
ASIA Motor Muscle Grading 3
Active movement, full range against gravity
ASIA Motor Muscle Grading 4
Active movement, full range against gravity and mod resistance in muscle specific position
ASIA Motor Muscle Grading 5
Active movement, full range against gravity and full resistance in muscle specific position. Expected from otherwise unimpaired person
ASIA Motor Muscle Grading 5*
active movement, full ROM against gravity and sufficient resistance to be considered normal if identifiable inhibiting factors (i.e. pain, disuse) were not present
NT
Not Testable (immobilization , severe pain, amputation, contracture >50% normal ROM)
ASIA: Intact Innervation of Key Muscles
grade 3/5 or 4/5 AND most rostral key muscle 5/5
If myotome not clinically testable, sensory level serves as motor level also. (so 5-5-5-5-3 = last normal level)
ASIA impairment scale
A = Complete B = Sensory Incomplete C =Motor Incomplete D = Motor Incomplete E = Normal