Spinal tracts and injury Flashcards
anterior cord syndrome
Common MOI: cervical flexion
Impairment: loss of pain, temp and motor fxn
Affected tract: corticospinal and spinothalamic tracts
Brown Sequard’s syndrome
Common MOI: stab wound that produces hemisection of SC
Impairment: loss of vibration and postion sense as the SAME side of the lesion (corticospinal and dorsal columns), loss pf pain and temp on OPP side (lateral spinothalamic tract)
Affected tract: corticospinal tract, dorsal columns, lateral spinothalamic tract
Cauda equina injury
injury below L1 where nerve roots transcend. Frequently non complete. considered a peripheral nerve root injury. Characterisitics: flaccid, areflexia, B&B dysfxn
full recovery not expected 2/2 slow axonal degeneration
Central cord syndrome
UE is more affected then LE and greater motor defcits than sensory
Common MOI: compression to central region of SC
Impairment: Cervical hyperextension
Affected tract: spinothalamic tract, corticospinal and dorsal columns
Posterior cord syndrome
rare
compression of posterior spinal artery
- characterized by loss of proprioception, 2 point discrimination, sterognosis
- motor fxn is perserved
ASIA Level A
Complete: no sensory or motor function is perserved in sacral segments S4-S5
ASIA level B
Sensory incomplete: Sensory but not motor fxn is perserved below neuro level and extends thro S4/S5
ASIA level C
motor incomplete: motor fxn is preserved below neuro level and most key muscles below level have are lower than MMT 3/5
ASIA level D
motor incomplete: motor fxn is preserved lower than nuero level and key muscles have MMT higher than 3/5
ASIA level E
Normal; senosry and motor fxns are normal
How is motor level assigned in in ASIA
determined by the most caudal keey muscle that has strength of 3/5 or greater and superior segment 5/5 or normal
How is sensory level assigned in in ASIA
determined by the most caudal dermatome with normal score of 2/2 for pin prick and light touch
What is motor index scoring
testing each key muscle using the 0-5 scoring.
25 max for each extremity
100 total possible points
According to ASIA, what key muscles are tested for C5
elbow flexors (biceps and brachialis)
According to ASIA, what key muscles are tested for C6
wrist extensors (extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis)