Traumatic Spine Injuries Flashcards
What are the hx features of Traumatic Myelopathy?
- Open or closed trauma to the spine
- Focal neuro sx below the level of the trauma
What are the PE findings in Traumatic Myelopathy?
- UMN weakness below the level on injury (spasiticity, hyperreflexia, Path reflexes)
- Sensory deficits below injury
- Sphincter & autonomic changes below
What are the technical features of Traumatic Myelopathy?
- X-ray may reveal spinal bone damage
- MRI is the best imaging to ID SC injury
What is the mech of injury in Traumatic myelopathy?
Deficits d/t injury to SC tracts & autonomic structures
What is the tx of Traumatic myelopathy?
Surgical if there is a foreign body or bone frga protruding into the SC
What is the management for Traumatic myelopathy?
Destroyed CNS neurons cannot be regen but tx may prevent further degen
What are the hx features of Epidural Hematoma?
- Fall or direct trauma
- Iatrogenic (LP)
- Sx follow trauma by hours or days
What will be found on PE in an Epidural hematoma?
UMN sign, sensory deficits, sphincter & autonomic changes below the injury
What are the technical features of an Epidural hematoma?
MRI> CT scan
What is the mech of injury in an Epidural hematoma?
Trauma causes tearing of the epidural vessels
Blood accum cause SC compression & sx
What is the tx of an Epidural hematoma?
Surgery
What is the cause of a Cauda Equina injury?
Trauma to the lumbosacral spine
What are the PE findings in Cauda Equina injury?
- LMN weakness in legs
- Sensory distrub in legs & perinuem in mult nerve root dist
- May be sphincter dysfx
What are the technical features of a Cauda Equina injury?
MRI> Ct scan
EMG & NCV’s may be helpful
What is the tx of Cauda Equina injury?
Surgery
Nerve roots often capable of regen but not assured
