Spinal Cord Injury

Question 1

What kind of plegia occurs: A) Above T6? B) Below T6?

Answer 1

Above - Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia (bc cuneate fascicle also)

Below- Paraplegia

Question 2

What is the name of the impairment scale that describes a persons functional impairment as a result of their spinal cord injury?

Answer 2

AISA

Question 3

In the AISA scale of A-E which is the worst?

Answer 3

A

Question 4

What are the steps of the AISA Scale?

Answer 4

A = COMPLETE - No motor/sensory from neurological level to S5. 
B = INCOMPLETE - Sensory loss, motor to S5. 
C = INCOMPLETE - Sensory fine, half of muscles under neurological level have motor function  grade 3
E = NORMAL

Question 5

A lesion in Brown-Sequard syndrome takes out and sensory on which side?

Answer 5

Ipsilateral

Corticospinal Tract has already crossed at the decussation of pyramids.

Question 6

What is Brown-Sequard syndrome?

Answer 6

Damage to one half of the spinal cord.

Question 7

Excessive vagal stimulation of the _____ nerve above T6 and in spinal shock causes what?

Answer 7

Vagus nerve (involved in parasympathetic "rest and digest")
Causes: Loss of parasympathetic control

Question 8

Overwhelming vagal output causes what? (HINT: Cardiac)

Answer 8

Bradycardia, Asystole

Question 9

What is autonomic dysreflexia?

Answer 9

A lesion above T6, when stimulated triggers autonomic nervous system response - heartache, hypertension.

Question 10

What are the acute complications of spinal cord injury?

Answer 10

Urinary tract problems, respiratory infection and pressure sores

Question 11

What are the chronic complications of spinal cord injury?

Answer 11

Rheumatological - Degen joint disease, Heterotypic Ossification (bone formation in soft tissue)
Progressive - Syringomyelia (cavity in SC), pain, spasticity