Spinal Cord Lesions

Question 1

What is paresis?

Answer 1

Weakness

Question 2

What is plegia?

Answer 2

Paralysis

Question 3

What is paraparesis?

Answer 3

Weakness affecting the lower extremities

Question 4

What is paraplegia?

Answer 4

Paralysis of the lower extremities and the lower trunk

Question 5

What is quadriparaesis?

Answer 5

Weakness of all 4 extremities

Question 6

What is quadriplegia?

Answer 6

Paralysis of all 4 extremities

Question 7

How high must an injury be to cause quadriplegia?

Answer 7

Very high, T1 or above

Question 8

What are some common upper motor neuron lesion symptoms?

Answer 8

Spasticity and weakness
Increased DTR
Rapid contractions and relaxations
Positive babinski and bing
Paresis
No sign of muscle denervation
Muscles affected in large groups, quadrants, or halves of body
Sensory patterns in quadrants of halves if the body

Question 9

What are some common lower motor neuron lesion symptoms?

Answer 9

Paralysis and flaccid weakness
Muscle denervation (atrophy)
Fasciculations
Fibrillations
Reduced or absent DTR
Muscles affected singly or in small group
Sensory patterns follow dermatomes

Question 10

What are some most common causes for spinal cord injuries?

Answer 10

Vehicle accident, falls, violence, and sports injuries

Question 11

What percentage of SCI come from vehicle accidents?

Answer 11

40%

Question 12

What percentage of SCI come from falls?

Answer 12

30%

Question 13

What percentage of SCI come from violence?

Answer 13

14%

Question 14

What percentage of SCI come from sports injuries?

Answer 14

9%

Question 15

What is neurologic level?

Answer 15

Most caudal segment that tests as normal or intact for both sensory and motor function

Question 16

What does 0 mean in the manual muscle testing rating?

Answer 16

No muscle contraction

Question 17

What does 5 mean in the manual muscle testing rating?

Answer 17

Best muscle contraction/movement

Question 18

How is neurological level tested?

Answer 18

Pin and touch (dermatomal - sensory)
Manual muscle testing (myotomal - muscle)

Question 19

What is an A on the ASIA scale?

Answer 19

Complete lesion (no sensory or motor function)

Question 20

What is an E on the ASIA scale?

Answer 20

Sensory and motor function is normal

Question 21

What are some expectations for an acute spinal cord injury?

Answer 21

Spinal shock
Trouble getting reflexes
Lack of motor movement
Duration of this phase is variable

Question 22

What are some expectations for a chronic spinal cord injury?

Answer 22

Return of reflex activity below lesion
Spasticity
Rapid contractions and relaxations of the muscle
Positive babinski
Hyperactive cutaneous reflexes

Question 23

What is a central cord lesion?

Answer 23

Caused from hyperextension of the neck
Dysfunction in alpha motor neurons

Question 24

What is a spinal cord hemisection?

Answer 24

Half of the spinal cord injured by knife or gunshot
Effects motor command (corticospinal), LMN, and touch and proprioception (dorsal column) ipsilaterally
It also effects pain and temperature contralaterally (a little lower than the lesion)

Question 25

What can be a result from the hemisection?

Answer 25

Horners syndrome
Pupil remain constricted
Drooping eyelid

Question 26

What is ALS?

Answer 26

Damage to the corticospinal tract (UMN) and the ventral gray horns (LMN)
All trouble with motor, sensory not effected
Atrophy, fasciculations, and hyperreflexia

Question 27

What is a combined system disease?

Answer 27

Dorsal column and corticospinal tract damage
Both motor and sensory affected

Question 28

What is tabes dorsalis?

Answer 28

Dorsal root lesion
Effect sensory info going to brain

Question 29

What is poliomyelitis?

Answer 29

Alpha gray horns effected ipsilaterally
Atrophy and fasciculations
Paresis or paralysis