Spinal Cord Injury & Disease Flashcards
What is the difference between a complete SCI and an incomplete SCI?
With a complete there is total absence of sensory and motor function below lesion level.
Whereas in an incomplete SCI there is partial preservation of sensory and motor functions below the lesion level.
The return of function of the last preserved sensory level in a complete and incomplete SCI is enhanced by the administration of what drug?
the corticosteroid methylprednisone
Methylprednisone must be administered - hours after SCI in order to be effective
3-8
Which occurs more frequently, complete or incomplete SCIs?
incomplete
What are 4 common causes of SCI?
- Transection
- Compression
- Infection
- Degenerative Disorders
What are the symptoms if the cause of a SCI is transection?
All sensory & motor information is interrupted at or below the lesion level
What is an example of an infection that can compromise the integrity of the spinal cord?
Polio
What is an example of an degenerative disorder that can compromise the integrity of the spinal cord?
ALS
What are the 5 most important tracts to clinically evaluate?
- Lateral Corticospinal Tracts
- Dorsal Columns
- Lateral Spinothalamic Tracts
- Spinocerebellar Tracts
- Vestibulospinal Tracts
What type of information do the lateral corticospinal tract carry?
Voluntary motor control on the contralateral side
What type of information do the dorsal columns carry?
Conscious discriminative touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception on the contralateral side
What type of information do the lateral spinothalamic tract carry?
Conscious pain & temperature on the contralateral side
What type of information do the spinocerebellar tract carry?
Unconscious proprioception
What type of information do the vestibulospinal tract carry?
Facilitation of extensor tone
CN nuclei are part of the ____ motor neuron system, whereas CN ____ are part of the ____ motor neuron system
upper
lower
Are the conus medullaris and the cauda equina consider UMN or LMN?
LMNs
Cord lesions at the __ vertebra area and lower are considered LMN injuries
L1
What are the 3 UMN lesion signs that occur below the level of the lesion?
- Spasticity
- Hyperactive reflexes
- Clonus
True or False
People with spasticity have difficulty actively and passively moving the muscle on one side of the joint, not both sides.
True
What is it called if both flexors and extensors display increased tone?
rigidity
What is the 1 UMN lesion signs that occur at the level of the lesion?
flaccidity
Muscles that undergo atrophy following LMN lesion may display what 2 types of dysfunction?
Fibrillations and/or Fasciculations
What are Fibrillations?
Fine twitches of single muscle fibers that usually cannot be detected on clinical exam but can be identified on an EMG
What are Fasciculations?
Brief contractions of motor units, which can be observed in skeletal muscle and detected on clinical exam
Which type of spinal cord disease is caused by neurosyphilis?
Dorsal Column Disease
Dorsal Column Disease results in what symptoms?
Bilateral Loss of:
- Tactile discrimination - Vibration - Pressure - Proprioception
Describe the pathology of Brown-Séquard Syndrome
spinal cord hemisection
Brown-Séquard Syndrome results in what symptoms?
Ipsilateral Loss of: - motor control - discriminative touch - pressure - vibration - proprioception Contralateral Loss of: - Pain & Temperature (below the level of the lesion) Bilateral Loss of: - Pain & Temperature (at the level of the lesion)
What 3 things can cause anterior cord syndrome?
- Infarct
- Ischemia
- Trauma
Describe the pathology of Anterior Cord Syndrome
Occurs when 2/3 of the anterior cord is lost
Anterior Cord Syndrome results in what symptoms?
Bilateral Loss of: - Pain & Temperature - voluntary motor control Spasticity Flaccidity at and below the level of the lesion
Describe the pathology of Central Cord Syndrome
Involves a cavitation of the central cord in the cervical segments
Central Cord Syndrome results in what symptoms?
- bilateral loss of pain and temperature
- flaccidity of the UEs
What are 3 possible causes of posterolateral cord syndrome?
- Severe vitamin B12 deficiency
- Pernicious anemia
- AIDS
Describe the pathology of Posterolateral Cord Syndrome
Affects the posterior and posterolateral white funiculi of the SC
Posterolateral Cord Syndrome results in what symptoms?
Bilateral:
- loss of discriminative touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception
- spastic paralysis
- ataxia
Describe the pathology of Anterior Horn Cell Syndrome
Caused by disease process that destroys the MNs in the ventral horn resulting in LMN damage
Anterior Horn Cell Syndrome results in what symptoms?
Bilateral flaccidity (LMN symptom)
What is described as a state of areflexia that occurs immediately after SCI in which there is a complete loss of all spinal reflexes below the level of the lesion?
Spinal Shock (aka Neurogenic Shock)
What are the 3 signs of spinal shock?
- Flaccid paralysis
- Loss of tendon reflexes
- Loss of autonomic function
What can be defined as an acute episode of exaggerated sympathetic reflex responses in SCI that occurs because higher center reflex regulation is lost.
Autonomic Dysreflexia
Autonomic Dysreflexia is associated with SCIs at __ or above
T6
What other condition tends to develop in patients with injuries at T6 or above in which BP drops precipitously when a patient is in an upright position?
Orthostatic Hypotension
Why does body temperature dysregulation occur following SCI?
Because communication between hypothalamic temperature regulators and sympathetic function below the lesion level become disrupted
What is Poikilothermy?
A condition in which the body takes on the temperature of its external environment
Poikilothermy is associated with SCIs at __ or above
T6
What are 3 other considerations to take into consideration following SCI?
- edema
- skin breakdown
- DVTs
Patients with _MN lesions have a spastic bladder
Patients with _MN lesions have a flaccid bladder
UMN
LMN
Patients with SCI above __-__ lose voluntary control of the external anal sphincter
S2-S4
How are T12/L1 or higher SCI patients sexually aroused?
Through touch only
How are L2-S1 SCI patients sexually aroused?
Through touch or mental stimulation