Spinal Cord Injury (Guest Lecture) Flashcards
Term: Temporary or permanent change in the spinal cords normal sensory, motor, or autonomic function
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
3 Atraumatic MOI of SCI
- Vascular
- Neoplastic/Cancer
- Degenerative (OA, compression)
Term: Blood compressing the spinal cord
Spinal Hemorrhage
4 Traumatic MOI in SCI
- MVA (39%)
- Falls (28%)
- GSW/Violence (15%)
- Sports–Diving/Contact (8%)
4 Common Comorbidities with SCI
- Brain Injury (affects pt. ability to understand tx.)
- Fractures (WB restrictions)
- Penumothorax (Slows progress)
- Peripheral Nerve Injury (can affect ability to transfer)
Term: SCI between C2-T1
Tetraplegia or Quadraplegia
2 Ways to Classify Tetraplegia
- High/Low
- Complete (14%)/Incomplete (45%)
Term: SCI from T1/T2 down
Paraplegia
Way to Classify Paraplegia
Complete (20%)/Incomplete (21%)
Describe how medical advances has changed the proportion of SCI seen
Have gone from more tetra to paraplegics
Have gone from more complete to incomplete SCIs
Describe what happens when an injury to the spinal cord occurs
- Changes in BF cause ongiong damage
- Excessive NT release kills nerve cells
- Inflammatory response occurs
- Free radicals attack nerve cells
- Nerve cells self destruct
Describe what occurs at the primary injury vs. the surrounding areas
Primary injury = all cells die
Surrounding area = cells closes tend to die due to inflammation, cells farther out typically live but could die depending on extent of inflammatory response
6 Pieces of Critical Information for a SCI
- MOI
- Co-morbidities
- PMH
- Precautions
- Level of Injury
- ASIA level
KU C-Spine Precautions (3)
- Spine unstable = Bedrest
- C-spine pending clearance, no fx/dislocation id’ed = up with collar
- Post fixation = use of collar
KU T/L Spine Precautions (5)
- Bedrest
- Limit extremity movement
- DO NOT elevate HOB
- Reverse Trendelenburg to prevent aspiration
- Log roll
Describe how the cord compares to the vertebral level
C1-T1 cord and vertebrae level very similar
T12 exits at the T8 vertebra
Lumbar cord exits between T9-T11
Sacral cord exits between T12-L1
Key Muscle Group: C1-C4
Diaphragm and sensory
This level is determined by sensory function/lack of function
Key Muscle Group: C5
Biceps
Key Muscle Group: C6
Wrist Extension
Key Muscle Group: C7
Triceps