Spinal Injuries and Intracranial Disease Flashcards
why is it important for nurses to be able to understand spinal injuries?
so that best nursing care can be provided
what is involved in the veterinary nurses role in the care of a spinal injury patient?
identify disease progression
understand how to assess and monitor
report accurately to the VS
how may some spinal injuries present?
as an emergency and so are time critical
what forms the extracranial part of the CNS?
spinal cord
what structure encases and protects the spinal cord and nerves?
spinal column
what is involved in the patient assessment of a neuro patient?
history physical exam neurological exam differential diagnosis based on previous findings diagnostic tests diagnosis / prognosis treatment
when will a neurological exam be performed?
seizures
behavioural changes
gait abnormalities
change in posture / positioning
why is a neurological exam so important?
identify if nervous system is involved
identify specific location / localisation of injury
aid diagnosis and prognosis
continuous assessment of condition
what is neurolocalisation?
identification of which part of the spinal cord is affected by injury
what types of motor neurons are there?
upper
lower
what are the signs of upper motor neurone injury?
loss of motor function
paresis
reflexes are normal or increased
chronic atrophy
what are the signs of lower motor neurone injury?
reduced muscle tone
reflexes reduced or absent
atrophy
where are upper motor neurones located?
between the cerebral cortex and the spinal cord
what is the role of upper motor neurons?
send signals to lower motor neurons
what is the role of lower motor neurons?
connect the CNS to the effector organ (often muscles) and send signals to make them contract
what can neurologic signs help with?
localisation of lesion
what is involved in neurological examination?
mentation gait and posture cranial nerves postural reactions spinal reflexes sensory evaluation palpation
what is assessed about mentation during a neurological exam?
is the patient alert, obtunded, stuporous or comatose
what is assessed about gait and posture during a neurological exam?
is it normal for the individual
how can cranial nerves be assessed during a neurological examination?
reflexes: menace PLR gag palpebral vestibuloccular
what is assessed about postural reactions during a neurological exam?
propreoception
what is assessed about spinal reflexes during a neurological exam?
thoracic and pelvic limb assessment
what is assessed about deep pain during a neurological exam?
panniculus
deep pain
what areas of the body are palpated during a neurological exam?
head, spine, limbs
what is one of the most common presentations of spinal cord injuries?
gait abnormalities
what is assessed about gait during a neurological exam?
can the animals generate and make coordinated movements
is there normal limb use
how is gait assessed in a neurological exam?
owner / nurse walks animal up and down
what should be done if the animal makes no attempt to walk during a gait assessment in a neurological exam?
sling or support should be used
define ataxia
uncoordinated gait (may have normal strength in limbs)
define paresis / paretic
weakness
decreased voluntary movement
define paralysis / plegic
no voluntary movement
animal cannot move limbs at all
define mono paretic/plegic
one limb affected
define hemi paretic/plegic
both limbs on one side (L or R) affected
define para paretic/plegic
both pelvic limbs affected
define quadra or tetra paretic / plegic
all four limbs affected
why is a quadra/tetra plegic animal very rare?
will affect respiratory function as well as limbs so liely to die
what posture changes may indicate spinal cord injury?
head tilt - one ear below the other head turn - nose turned towards body ventroflexion of the neck curling of the spine decerebrate rigidity decerebrate rigidity wide based stance - wider limb placement than normal
what is ventroflexion of the neck?
low head carriage - head is lower than normal
what are the 3 main altered curvatures of the spine?
scoliosis
lordosis
kyphotisis
what is scoliosis?
lateral curve in spine
what is lordosis?
abnormal ventral curve in spine
what is kyphosis?
abnormal dorsal curve in spine
define decerebrate rigidity
extension of all limbs, head and neck and unable to move
define decerebellate rigidity
extension of thoracic limbs, head and neck
pelvic limbs are flexed or normal
how can postural reactions be tested?
propreoceptive positioning hopping visual placing tactile placing hemi-walking wheelbarrwoing
how is propreoceptive positioning performed during a neurological exam?
tuck paw under with dorsal surface on floor - animal should correct this
how is hopping performed during a neurological exam?
one leg is lifted and the patient encouraged to move on other 3
how is visual placing performed during a neurological exam?
hold limb towards a table and then place paw on it - animal should reach out towards table
how is tactile placing performed during a neurological exam?
eyes are covered and foot is brushed towards the edge of a table
the animal should place the paw normally on the table
how is hemi-walking performed during a neurological exam?
paws on one side of the body lifted and animal encouraged to move
how is wheelbarrowing performed during a neurological exam?
hindlimbs are lifted and animal walks on forelimbs
what spinal reflexes can be used to assess nerve function?
thoracic limb
pelvic limb
perineal
panniculus
what are the spinal reflexes that are assessed in the forelimb?
withdrawal reflex
extensor carpi radialis and triceps reflex
what are the spinal reflexes that are assessed in the hindlimb?
patella reflex
cranial tibial and gastrocnemius
how are extensor carpi radialis, biceps, triceps, cranial tibial and gastrocnemius reflexes tested?
muscles are tapped with a hammer and a reaction should be seen
what is the most reliable spinal reflex in the thoracic limb?
withdrawal reflex
what is the perineal spinal reflex?
if area around perineum is touched there will be contraction of sphincter
what is the panniculus reflex?
pinching either side of the spinal column which should result in a twitch that runs down the spine
what can the panniculus reflex help with?
aid localisation of lesion in spinal cord
is the withdrawal reflex an indication of pain?
no
when is pain evaluation performed?
last investigation as it is stressful
why is it important to test deep pain sensation?
deepest tracts in spinal cord are the pain tracts - if these are affected it means there is severe spinal cord damage
how is pain evaluated in patients?
pinching / pressure is applied to digits on each limb and response is noted
what are you looking for during a pain evaluation to show that pain tracts in the spinal cord are undamaged?
reaction from the patient (e.g. turning, vocalising or trying to bite)
what is a negative result on a deep pain evaluation?
no pain sensation (may still see withdrawal)
what are acute causes of spinal injury?
intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
trauma - fracture/luxation
infarction (fibrocartilaginous embolism FCE)
in waht breed of dogs is IVDD most common?
dachshund
what happens during FCE?
blood vessels supplying the spine becomes blocked by clot / fibrocartilageonous material
what are the chronic causes of spinal injuries?
degenerative disc disease
degenerative myelopathy
cervical stenotic myelopathy (wobblers)
in what breeds are degenerative myelopathy and cervical stenotic myelopathy common?
large breeds
what is happening in a patient with cervical stenotic myelopathy?
narrowing of spinal column in cervical region
what are the other potential causes of spinal injury?
atlanto-occipital subluxation vertebral abnormalities neoplasia inflammatory diseases discospondylitis
what is discospondylitis?
infection within vertebral bodies
how are spinal injuries diagnosed?
imaging (radiographs, CT and MRI) CSF tap (possibly) - cisternal or lumbar
what is the best imaging modality for diagnosis of spinal injuries?
MRI
how may spinal cord injuries be treated?
conservative treatment
surgery
what is involved in conservative treatment of spinal injuries?
6 weeks of strict rest (cage if possible) physiotherapy anti-inflammatory drugs analgesia steroid therapy (occasionally)
what are the surgical options for treatment of spinal cord injury?
hemilaminectomy
ventral slot
dorsal laminectomy
spinal stabilisation / fixation
what area of the spine is operated on during hemilaminectomy surgery?
T3-L3 and L4-S3 regions
where is ventral slot surgery performed?
C1-T2 - ventral approach
when is surgical treatment of spinal injury needed?
negative deep pain test
extreme pain
disc material visualised in spinal column
what makes up a big proportion of nursing care in spinal injury patients?
bladder function
why is bladder function so significant in spinal cord injury patients?
many patients are incontinent
what are the 2 main types of bladder injury/damage seen with spinal cord injury patients?
upper motor neuron bladder
lower motor neuron bladder
describe what an upper motor neuron bladder is like
increased urethral resistance detrusor and urethral sphincter can contract at the same time not able to control bladder function urinary retention kidney damage possible difficult to manually express requires catheterisation intermittent squirting of urine as muscle and sphincter contract
are patients with upper motor neuron injuries able to control bladder function?
no
can upper motor neuron bladders be easily manually expressed?
o
is catheterisation advised for upper motor neuron bladders?
yes