Spinal Cord Injury

Question 1

What are the main ascending tracts?

Answer 1

Spinothalamic
Dorsal columns
Spinocerebellar

Question 2

What are the main descending tracts?

Answer 2

Corticospinal
Vestibulospinal 
Reticulospinal
Rubrospinal
Tectospinal

Question 3

What are the vulnerable areas of the vertebral column?

Answer 3

C5-7
T12
T4-T7

Question 4

What are 3 different mechanisms by which damage occurs?

Answer 4

Destruction from direct trauma
Compression by bone fragments, haemotoma, disc material
Ischemia from damage or impingement of spinal arteries

Question 5

What are 4 types of incomplete spinal lesions?

Answer 5

Central Cord Syndrome
Anterior Cord Syndrome
Brown- Sequard
Cauda Equina

Question 6

What are the symptoms of Central Cord Syndrome?

Answer 6

(Occurs with cervical level injuries)
Motor dysfunction in UL
Bladder dysfunction
Corticospinal and spinothalamic

Question 7

What are the symptoms of Anterior Cord Syndrome?

Answer 7

(Usually vascular cause)
Motor paralysis below lesion
Loss of pain and temp sensation
Retained proprioception and vibration sensing

Question 8

What are the symptoms of Brown-Sequard?

Answer 8

Motor deficit and numbness to touch on same side of lesion

Loss of pain and temp sensation on opposite side

Question 9

Give 3 differences between Conus Medullaris and Cauda Equina

Answer 9

CM - sudden, BL, more LBP, loss of perinanal sensation, symmetrical motor problems
CE - gradual, UL, radicular pain, less LBP, saddle area LOS, asymettrical motor problems