Spinal Cord Lesions Flashcards
What is paresis?
Weakness
What is plegia?
Paralysis
What is paraparesis?
Weakness affecting the lower extremities
What is paraplegia?
Paralysis of the lower extremities and the lower trunk
What is quadriparaesis?
Weakness of all 4 extremities
What is quadriplegia?
Paralysis of all 4 extremities
How high must an injury be to cause quadriplegia?
Very high, T1 or above
What are some common upper motor neuron lesion symptoms?
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
What are some common lower motor neuron lesion symptoms?
Paralysis and flaccid weakness
Muscle denervation (atrophy)
Fasciculations
Fibrillations
Reduced or absent DTR
Muscles affected singly or in small group
Sensory patterns follow dermatomes
What are some most common causes for spinal cord injuries?
Vehicle accident, falls, violence, and sports injuries
What percentage of SCI come from vehicle accidents?
40%
What percentage of SCI come from falls?
30%
What percentage of SCI come from violence?
14%
What percentage of SCI come from sports injuries?
9%
What is neurologic level?
Most caudal segment that tests as normal or intact for both sensory and motor function
What does 0 mean in the manual muscle testing rating?
No muscle contraction
What does 5 mean in the manual muscle testing rating?
Best muscle contraction/movement
How is neurological level tested?
Pin and touch (dermatomal - sensory)
Manual muscle testing (myotomal - muscle)
What is an A on the ASIA scale?
Complete lesion (no sensory or motor function)
What is an E on the ASIA scale?
Sensory and motor function is normal
What are some expectations for an acute spinal cord injury?
Spinal shock
Trouble getting reflexes
Lack of motor movement
Duration of this phase is variable
What are some expectations for a chronic spinal cord injury?
Return of reflex activity below lesion
Spasticity
Rapid contractions and relaxations of the muscle
Positive babinski
Hyperactive cutaneous reflexes
What is a central cord lesion?
Caused from hyperextension of the neck
Dysfunction in alpha motor neurons
What is a spinal cord hemisection?
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)
What can be a result from the hemisection?
Horners syndrome
Pupil remain constricted
Drooping eyelid
What is ALS?
Damage to the corticospinal tract (UMN) and the ventral gray horns (LMN)
All trouble with motor, sensory not effected
Atrophy, fasciculations, and hyperreflexia
What is a combined system disease?
Dorsal column and corticospinal tract damage
Both motor and sensory affected
What is tabes dorsalis?
Dorsal root lesion
Effect sensory info going to brain
What is poliomyelitis?
Alpha gray horns effected ipsilaterally
Atrophy and fasciculations
Paresis or paralysis
