Spine and spinal cord trauma Flashcards
Signs of spinal shock
Hypotension
Bradycardia
Signs of high neurologic deficit (eg lack of limb movement)
Other injuries associated with C spine fractures
Brain injury
Another non-contiguous spine fracture in 10% pts
Level of spinal cord injury associated with neurogenic shock
T6 and higher
Mechanism of neurogenic shock
Distributive shock from lack of vasomotor tone
Injury to sympathetic fibres that maintain vascular tone and heart rate
Three spinal cord tracts that can be examined clinically
Dorsal column (gracile fasciculus, cuneate fasciculus )
Lateral corticospinal tract
Spinothalamic tract
Dermatome definition
Area of skin innervated by a particular nerve root
Sensory level definition
The lowest dermatome with normal sensory function
Can differ between sides of the body
How to document spinal cord injury assessment
ASIA worksheet
(American Spinal Injury Association)
Muscle strength grading score 5
Normal strength
Muscle strength grading score 4
Full ROM but less than normal strength
Muscle strength grading score 3
Full ROM against gravity but not against resistance
Muscle strength grading score 2
Full ROM with gravity eliminated
Muscle strength grading score 1
Palpable or visible contraction
Muscle strength grading score 0
Total paralysis
Muscle strength grading score NT
Not testable
Myotome C5
Deltoid abduction
Myotome C6
Biceps flexion
Myotome C7
Triceps extension
Myotome C8
Wrist extension (radial test)
Myotome T1
Finger abduction (ulnar test)
Or
Grip strength
Myotome L2
Hip flexion
Myotome L3 / L4
Knee extension