WHAT IS PARAPLEGIA?

PARALYSIS OF LOWER PART OF BODY,COMMONLY AFFECTING BOTH LEGS AND OFTEN INTERNAL ORGANS BELOW WAIST.

ETIOLOGY
DIVIDED INTO 2 TYPES

DUE TO UPPER MOTOR NEURON LESION DUE TO LOWER MOTOR NEURON LESION

UMN LESIONS
SPINAL LESIONS (common)

Spinal cord compression( Potts disease,disc prolapse or fracture, tumors,epidural abscess,cervical spondylosis etc) VASCULAR Hemorrhage, Infarction SYSTEMIC DEGENERATION OF TRACTS Multiple sclerosis, MND, Sub acute combined degeneration of cord. INFECTION Transverse myelitis, Neurosyphilis

UMN LESIONS
CEREBRAL LESIONS (uncommon)
Thrombosis of superior sagital sinus Tumor of falx-cerebri Hydrocephalus

LMN LESIONS

Anterior horn cells Poliomyelitis, Motor neuron disease Peripheral nerve Peripheral neuropathy Neuromuscular junction Myasthenia gravis Muscles Muscular dystrophies

SPINAL CORD COMPRESSION

It may be acute with trauma,metastasis or Arterial occlusion or it may be slow developing over weeks as in Potts disease,cervical spondylosis etc.

POTTS DISEASE

TB of spine often involves two or more adjacent vertebral bodies. Lower thoracic and upper lumber vertebrae are commonly involved.Intervertebral disc is also destroyed. With advanced disease paravertebral cold abscess , gibbus formation and PARAPLEGIA occur.

TRANSVERSE MYELITIS

It is an acute or subacute inflammation of spinal cord occuring after infection or recent vaccination. Many agents like influenza,measles,CMV,EBV and mycoplasma have been implicated.

Guillain Barre Syndrome

Acute inflammatory or post-infective demyelinating polyneuropathy. Develops 1-3 weeks after respiratoryinfection or diarrhea in >70% cases. Ascending polyneuropathy.

MOTOR NEURON DISEASE

Progressive degenerative disorder of upper and lower motor neurons in spinal cord,cranial motor neurons and pyramidal neurons in motor cortex. Cause- unknown. Patterns Progressive bulbar palsy Progressive muscular atrophy Amytrophic lateral sclerosis.

SUBACUTE COMBINED DEGENERATION OF SPINAL CORD

Syndrome of combined spinal cord and peripheral nerve damage cause: Vit.B12 deficinency Changes start in posterior columnn (affecting vibration and position sense) then involve lateral column(pyramidal tracts)

MYASTHENIA GRAVIS

Acquired autoimmune disorder of NMJ. Causes skeletal muscle fatigubility and weakness, esp of proximal limb muscles,ocular anb bulbar muscles.

DUCHENNES MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

X-linked recessive disorder Deficiency of protein dystrophin in muscles. Symptoms start in childhood,become severe in adolescence and death occurs by age 20 years.

MANAGEMENT OF PARAPLEGIA
HISTORY EXAMINATION INVESTIGATIONS TREATMENT

HISTORY

AGE AND SEX Young age: Inherited disorders,muscle dis.,infections Old age: malignancies r common. DURATION ACUTE:GBS,transverse myelitis, cord compression. CHRONIC:MND,polyneuropathies,muscle dis. SPHINCTER DISTURBANCES (INITIALLY URGENCY OR HESITENCY OF MICTURATION,THEN URINARY RETENTION) Seen in UMN lesions.

HISTORY

SENSORY SYMPTOMS

Numbness,tingling and hyperesthesias in neuropathy. ROOT PAIN In cord compression. BACKACHE In cord compression,transverse myelitis. HEADACHE,VOMITING Intracranial lesions PRECEDING FEVER,URTI In GBS

EXAMINATION

MOTOR SYSTEM FEATURES Muscle waisting Muscle tone Power Deep reflexes Superficial reflex Planters Fasciculations UMNL LMNL absent present

+++ _ absent present

absent present

SENSORY SYSTEM
Sharp sensory level in transverse myelitis differentiates it from GBS. Neuropathy:glove and stocking distribution. Romberg sign +ve if posterior column is involved.

SIGNS OF SPINAL CORD COMPRESSION

CERVICAL,ABOVE C5 UMN signs and sensory loss in all 4 limbs CERVICAL,C5 TO T1 LMNsigns and segmental sensory loss in arms,and UMN signs in legs THORACIC CORD Spastic paraplegia with a sensory level on trunk. CONUS MEDULLARIS Sensory loss in sacral area and extensor plantar response CAUDA EQUINA LMN signs in lower limbs.

EXAMINATION

EXAMINATION OF SPINE For deformity and tenderness. SPHINCTERS:Look for incontinence or retention of urine or faeces. OTHER FEATURES: Anemia-B12 deficiency Stiff neck in cervical spondylosis Site of malignancy.

INVESTIGATIONS

X-RAY SPINE: May show collapse or erosion of vertebrae,herniated interverteberal disc,mets.,# or dislocation of vertebra etc. MRI: Investigation of choice CT SCAN BLOOD CP: Megaloblastic anemia in subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord.

INVESTIGATIONS

CSF examination:

Inflammatory lesions, both cells and proteins are increased. In malignancy,malignant cells may be present. In transverse myelitis ,proteins are increased and upto 50 lymphocytes/cmm are present. In MS,monoclonal IgG is increased. In GBS,protein cell dissociation is seen.

INVESTIGATIONS

MYELOGRAPHY: Site of cord compression is demonstrated. NERVE CONDUCTION STUDIES: Helpful in diagnosis of neuropathies. FUNDOSCOPY: For papilloedema due to intracranial tumor or MS. BONE SCAN: Mets and inflammatory vertebral lesions r detected.

TREATMENT
GENERAL MEASURES SKIN CARE: Change posture every 2-4 hrly to avoid bed sores. Keep skin dry and clean. BLADDER CARE: CATHETERIZATION for urinary retention. BOWEL CARE: Avoid constipation by suitable diet and laxatives.

TREATMENT

PREVENTION OF CONTRACTURES By regular passive movements. REHABILITATION By using wheel chair,standing frames,vocational training etc.

SPECIFIC TREATMENT

POTTS DISEASE
Immobilization ATT Surgery:Anterior transthoracic decompression.

TRANSVERSE MYELITIS
Glucocorticiods are given.Initially I/V methylprednisolone,then oral prednisolone.

TREATMENT

MND Symptomatic T/M like physiotherapy,walking aids,splints and speech therapy. Glutamate antagonist,RILUZOLE ? SUBACUTE COMBINED SPINALCORD DEGENERATION Injection vit.B12 1000 ug I/M daily for 7-10 days,then weekly for a month and then monthly for whole life.

TREATMENT
GBS
Plasma pharesis(effective only in first 2 weeks) i/v immunoglobulins(2g/kg in 5 days) No role of steriods. SPINAL CORD TUMORS Radiotherapy Surgical decompression.

COMPLICATIONS

BEDSORES BOWEL AND BLADDER INCONTINENCE DVT PULMONARY EMBOLISM PSYCHIATRIC LAYOUT HYPOSTATIC PNEUMONIA DISEASE RELATED COMLICATIONS

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