Nsg 530 Test 4 Patho Study Guide Latest

Cervical cord injuries- serious complications Chapter 16 12,000-person experience serious spinal cord injuries each year. Risk factors: 1. Male gender and age 16 to 30 are strong risk factors. 2. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of injury (36.5%) 3. Falls are the next most common cause (28.5%) 4. Violence, other events 5. Sports activities 6. Elderly Hemiplegia means loss of motor function on one side of the body. Paraplegia refers to loss of motor function of the lower extremities. Diplegia is the paralysis of both upper and lower extremities as a result of cerebral hemisphere injuries. Quadriplegia refers to paralysis of all four extremities. The five categories that are critical for the evaluation process for neurologic function include: (1) level of consciousness (LOC), (2) pattern of breathing, (3) size and reactivity of pupils, (4) eye position and reflexive response, and (5) muscle motor responses. Serious complications: Spinal Shock – below the site of the injury loss of reflex function, flaccid paralysis, absence of sensation, loss of bladder and rectal control, transient drop in blood pressure, and poor venous circulation. a. Disturbance in thermal control b. Individuals assume temperature of air (poikilothermia) c. Last 7 to 20 days or up to 3 months d. Reappearance of reflex activity, hyperreflexia, spasticity & reflex emptying of bladder Spinal shock does involve function of skeletal muscles resulting in paralysis and flaccidity. Such an injury is characterized by a complete loss of reflex function below the level of the lesion, and impairment of control of thermal regulation is observed. Neurogenic shock, also called vasogenic shock, occurs with cervical or upper thoracic cord injury above T5 and be seen in addition to spinal shock. e. Complications hypovolemic or cardiogenic shock with heart failure or blood loss Autonomic hyperreflexia (dysreflexia) Sudden, massive reflex sympathetic discharge associated with spinal cord injury at T6 f. Paroxysmal hypertension (up to 300mm Hg systolic) g. Pounding HA h. Blurred vision i. Sweating above the level of the lesion with flushing of the skin j. Nasal congestion k. Nausea l. Piloerection caused by pilomotor spasm m. Bradycardia (30-40 bt per minutes) n. Serious complications: i. Stroke ii. Seizures iii. Myocardial ischemia iv. Death o. Extended bladder – increase in blood pressure carotid sinus receptors – ninth cranial nerve stimulated by carotid receptors send messages to vasomotor center of medulla, vague nerve stimulated; impulse sent to SA node; results in bradycardia A comminuted fracture is also called a burst fracture, in which the vertebral body is shattered into several fragments. A simple fracture is a single break usually affecting the transverse or spinous process. A compressed fracture is also called a wedge. This occurs when there is a crush type of injury and the vertebrae lose height. A dislocation is when two bones at a joint are no longer in alignment. Decorticate posture (also referred to as antigravity posture or hemiplegic posture) is characterized by upper extremities flexed at the elbows and held close to the body and by lower extremities that are externally rotated and extended. A spastic gait or posture manifests by a shuffling gait with the leg extended and held stiff, causing a scraping over the floor surface. The leg swings improperly around the body rather than being appropriately lifted and placed. The foot may drag on the ground, and the person tends to fall to the affected side. Decerebrate posture refers to increased tone in extensor muscles and trunk muscles, with active tonic neck reflexes. When the head is in a neutral position, all four limbs are rigidly extended. Basal ganglion posture refers to a stooped, hyperflexed posture with a narrow-based, short-stepped gait Spinal cord injury involves damage to neural tissues by compressing tissue, pulling or exerting tension on tissue, or shearing tissues so that they slide into one another. Vertebral fracture occurs with direct or indirect trauma. Spinal cord injury may cause spinal shock with cessation of all motor, sensory, reflex, and autonomic functions below the transected area. Loss of motor and sensory function depends on the level of injury. Neurogenic shock occurs with cervical or upper thoracic cord injury (above T5) and can occur concurrently with spinal shock. Autonomic hyperreflexia (dysreflexia) is a syndrome of sudden, massive reflex sympathetic discharge associated with spinal cord injury at level T6 or above. Flexor spasms are accompanied by profuse sweating, piloerection, and automatic bladder emptying. Complete cord transection results in paralysis. Paralysis of the lower half of the body with both legs involved is called paraplegia. Paralysis involving all four extremities is called quadriplegia. Return of spinal neuron excitability occurs slowly. Reflex activity can return in 1 to 2 weeks in most persons with acute spinal cord injury. A pattern of flexion reflexes emerges, involving first the toes, then the feet and the legs. Eventually, reflex voiding and bowel elimination appear. Primary spinal cord injury: Occurs with initial mechanical trauma and immediate tissue destruction Inadequate mobilization following injury May occur in absence of vertebral fracture or dislocation Pathophysiologic cascade of events that begins immediately after injury and continues for weeks Life threatening if swelling occurs in cervical region Most commonly occurs due to vertebral injuries: Simple fracture, Compressed (wedged) fracture Comminuted (burst) fracture. Dislocation, Traumatic injury of vertebral and neural tissues as a result of compressing, pulling, or shearing forces Spinal shock Normal activity of the spinal cord ceases at and below the level of injury; sites lack continuous nervous discharges from the brain Complete loss of reflex function (skeletal, bladder, bowel, thermal control, and autonomic control) below level of lesion Neurogenic shock Occurs with injury above T5 Caused by absence of sympathetic activity