Spinal code injury test exam one with pictures

Spinal code injury test exam one Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)-Mechanism of injury Hyperflexion Hyperextension Rotation ● Most often in cervical area, especially C5 to C6 ● Caused by sudden deceleration motion (head-on collisions) ● Causes cord compression from fracture fragments ● Backward and downward motion of head ● Often seen in rear-end collisions or MVCs ● Spinal cord is stretched and distorted ● Often occur in conjunction with flexion or extension injury ● Severe rotation of neck or body results in tearing of posterior ligaments & displacement (rotation) of spinal column Axial Loading or Vertical Compression ● Occur from vertical force along spinal cord ● Commonly seen in falls from a height in which person lands on feet or buttocks ● Compression injuries cause burst fractures of vertebral body that often send bony fragments into the spinal canal or directly into the spinal cord Penetrating Injuries ● Caused by bullet, knife, or penetrating object ● Cause permanent damage, transecting spinal cord Types of SCI’s SCIs cannot be classified until spinal shock has resolved – classified as complete or incomplete Complete Injury: complete dissection of spinal cord, total loss of motor/sensory function below level of injury ● Quadriplegia (C1-C8) ◦ Sometimes referred to as tetraplegia ◦ Paralysis (to some degree) in all 4 limbs ● Paraplegia (T1-L1) (Partial) ◦ Paralysis of lower body/legs ◦ May have full use of arms ◦ May need wheelchair Incomplete Injury: if any motor/sensation function remains below level of injury (4 types) Brown-Sequard Syndrome ● Damage to only one side of the cord ● Loss of voluntary motor movement on side of injury ● Loss of pain, temperature, & sensation on opposite side of injury Central Cord Syndrome ● Associated with cervical hyperextension-hyperflexion injury & hematoma formation in center of cervical cord ● Produces a motor and sensory deficit that is greater in upper extremities than in lower extremities Anterior Cord Syndrome ● Associated with injury to anterior gray horn cells (motor), spinothalamic tracts (pain), anterior spinothalamic tract (light touch), and corticospinal tracts (temperature) ● Loss of motor function and pain/temperature sensations below level of injury, while position sense and sensations of pressure/vibrations remain intact Posterior Cord Syndrome ● Associated with cervical hyperextension injury with damage to posterior column ● Loss of position sense, pressure, & vibration below level of injury; motor function & sensation of pain/temperature remain intact