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Exam 15: Spinal cord Injuries

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Major causes of spinal cord injury:   Automobile Motorcycle Diving Surfing Other athletic accidents Gunshot wounds  
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Flexion injury   seen with rapid deceleration injuries, whiplash.  
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Extension injury   seen with rapid deceleration injuries, whiplash  
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Flexion rotation injury   twisting of the spinal cord.  
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Compression injury   Stacked down  
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Pathophysiological changes:   Damage to the spinal cord ranges from transient concussion, contusion, laceration, compression to complete transection of the cord  
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Complete cord injury or total transaction (Symptoms)   All voluntary movement below the level of injury is lost.  
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Incomplete or partial transaction (Symptoms)   Symptoms will vary.  
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If the spinal cord is completely transected   there is total sensory loss and motor paralysis below level of the injury. If damage is minimal some function may be maintained:  
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Cervical spinal cord injuries will produce   tetraplegia--loss of function of all four extremities.  
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Injuries to the thoracic spinal cord below the level of T1 will produce   paraplegia; paralysis of the lower extremities.  
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Loss of sweating and vasomotor tone below the level of the   cord lesion  
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areflexia (Spinal shock)   sudden depression of reflex activity below the level of injury.  
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areflexia (Spinal shock) happens   A complete loss of motor, sensory, reflex and autonomic activity below the level of the lesion. Usually occurs within 30-60 minutes of injury.  
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Autonomic dysreflexia: (Hyperreflexia)   an exaggerated sympathetic nervous system response. Occurs in patients with cord injuries at T6 and above. It can occur suddenly at any time after spinal shock subsides.  
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Factors that will precipitate autonomic dysreflexia   Impacted feces. Full bladder. Labor and delivery.  
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Areflexia resolves   itself  
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Dysreflexia resolves   Spontaneously  
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Dysreflexia Clinical Signs   Severe Bradycardia. Hypertension (systolic pressure up to 300mm Hg). Severe pounding headache. Flushed skin with gooseflesh (Piloerection).  
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Uncontrolled autonomic dysreflexia is a   medical emergency that requires immediate treatment to prevent a stroke, seizures, or death.  
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Methods used to evaluate spinal cord injuries: Dx Tests   History of trauma. Neurological exam. X-ray of the spinal column--possible MRI, CT scan. Spinal tap or myelogram may be done to detect occlusion.  
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Cervical spine (Injury associated manifestations)   tetraplegia with residual function depending on involvement of specific cervical segments.  
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C1-C3   movement in neck and above:  
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Injury to C1-C3 results in   1) Loss of innervations to diaphragm. 2) Absence of independent respiratory function.  
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Above C4   complete quadriplegia, complete dependence.  
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Injury above C4 results in   1) Sensation and movement in neck and above. 2) May be able to breathe without a ventilator.  
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C4-C5   some shoulder movement possible, requires respiratory support.  
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Injury to C4-C5 results in   1) C5: full neck, partial shoulder, back, biceps; gross elbow. 2) Inability to roll over or use hands; decreased respiratory reserve.  
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C6 / C7 / C8   incomplete quadriplegia- some elbow, arm and wrist movement. No sensation below midchest.  
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C6   shoulder and upper back abduction and rotation at shoulder.  
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C7 - C8   all triceps to elbow extension, finger extensors and flexors.  
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C6 injury results in   a) Full biceps to elbow flexion, wrist extension, weak grasp of thumb. b) Decreased respiratory reserve.  
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C7 - C8   all triceps to elbow extension, finger extensors and flexors.  
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C7 - C8 injury results in   a) Good grasp with some decreased strength. b) Decreased respiratory reserve.  
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Cervical Spine   C1-C8  
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Thoracic Spine   T1-T12  
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T1-T6   paralysis below the waist with control of hands  
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T1-T6 injury results in   1) Abdominal breathing: decreased respiratory reserve. 2) Full innervations of upper extremities, back. 3) Essential intrinsic muscles of hand; full strength and dexterity of grasp. 4) Decreased trunk stability.  
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T7 - T12   full, stable thoracic muscles and upper back.  
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T7 - T12 injury results in   1) Functional intercostals resulting in increased respiratory reserve.  
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Lumbar spine   L1-L5  
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L 1-2   Hip abduction impaired. No sensation below lower abdomen.  
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L 3-5   Knee and ankle movement impaired. No sensation below upper thigh.  
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S 1-5   bowel/bladder dysfunction, variable motor and sensory loss in lower extremities and perineum.  
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Foremost priority in spinal injury   Airway, breathing, Circulation.  
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Crutchfield tongs   burr in the skull holes are required for insertion.  
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Gardner-Wells tongs   burr holes not needed  
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Halo traction   burr holes are required for insertion.  
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A turning frame (Stryker or Foster)   is used to change the patient's position without changing alignment.  
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