Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Flashcards
What are the most common causes of SCI?
The most common cause of SCI is trauma, such as accidents or falls, but it can also occur due to infections, insufficient blood flow, or tumors.
What is spinal cord injury (SCI)?
Spinal cord injury is a neurological disease caused by compression, perforation, or lesion of the spinal cord.
How do we distinguish between complete and incomplete SCI?
Complete SCI involves the loss of sensation and motion below the injured area, while incomplete SCI involves the preservation of some nervous signals past the injury site, resulting in specific function loss.
What is spinal shock?
Spinal shock refers to the acute phase of SCI characterized by a complete loss of all functions related to the affected area.
What are the potential outcomes of SCI?
SCI can lead to permanent disability, even death, or partial reversibility of the damage, depending on its severity.
What is the first therapeutic approach to SCI?
The first therapeutic approach involves controlling inflammation and stabilizing the spinal cord, with surgery potentially being necessary.
What are some symptoms of SCI?
Symptoms of SCI include lack of sensation, paralysis, loss of bowel and bladder control, cardiovascular impairment, and chronic pain at the lesion site.
What tests are used to diagnose SCI?
Tests for diagnosing SCI include motor evaluation, reflex evaluation, X-rays, nerve conduction tests, electromyogram (EMG), CT scans, and MRI.
