Spinal Cord Injury

Mohammed Awada

12/02/2019
Incomplete Cervical Spinal Cord
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
Injury

 Incomplete SCI- injury was not enough to

completely sever the spinal cord
 Does not completely interfere with motor or sensory
function

 Can be UMN and or LMN lesion

 If it damages nerves from anterior horn that run to extremities then its
a LMN lesion
 The Spinal Cord
● The Spinal Cord is part of the CNS
○ responsible for sending info to the brain and for
reflexes

● Thin tubular structure made of nervous tissue

● Extends from the medulla oblongata (brainstem) to the

Lumbar region of the vertebral column

● Vertebrae and nerves

○ 7 cervical vertebrae
○ 12 thoracic vertebrae
○ 5 Lumbar vertebrae
● 23 disks that absorb shock
SCI causes
● MVA- Motor Vehicle Accident
● Falls
● Trauma
● Sports injuries
● Disease (Osteoporosis,arthritis)
● Acts of violence
● Diving injury
 Three different type of
Cervical SCI
Anterior Cord Syndrome
Brown-Sequard Syndrome
Central Cord Syndrome
 Anterior Cord Syndrome
Damage to anterior two thirds of the spinal cord

Complete motor loss and loss of temperature and

pain
 Brown Sequard Syndrome
-Lesion to ½ the spinal cord

-Results in weakness or paralysis to one side of

the body and a loss of sensation to the opposite
side of the body.

-Usually caused by trauma trauma to the spinal

cord or ischemia
 Central Cord Syndrome
Most common cervical SCI

Affects mainly the upper extremities

Usually from a result of trauma that causes damage to

the neck

Results in motor and sensory loss in the arms and

hands
 Effects of SCI
● Paralysis - partial or complete loss of function

● Paraplegia- paralysis in the trunk and or/ both

legs

● Quadriplegia - loss of all function in all limbs

● Hemiplegia - loss of function on one side

Mental Health

- Anxiety
- Depression
 Risk factors
● Elderly - 65 years or older

● Males are at a higher risk than females

● Most common age of spinal cord injury

is 19

● Average age of injury is 33

● People with bones or joints disorders

 Treatment
● Physical Therapy - improve independence

● Surgery

● Education on new lifestyle

● Hydrotherapy
 Interventions
● Medical intervention
○ Unable to reverse SCIs but research is continuing to
try to promote nerve cell regeneration.
○ Surgery- may be needed to remove fragments
depending on the injury. Also done to stabilize the
spine.
○ Medication- help with spasticity, bladder control, etc.
● Physical therapy
○ Maintaining current muscle function
○ Working on fine motor skills
○ Educating- on effects and how to increase quality of
life
○ Teaching- new ways of doing things to help with
independence
 Prognosis
● Early care
○ “Time is Spine” 48 hours from initial damage
○ Majority of SCI regain nerve functions within 6 months
● Severity
○ Incomplete
○ Complete
● Location
 References
Spinal Cord Injuries. (2019, January 22). Retrieved from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/793582-overview

SpinalCord.com. (n.d.). Cervical Spinal Cord Injury. Retrieved from https://www.spinalcord.com/cervical-spinal-cord-injury

Christopher Reeve & Spinal Cord Injury. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.medicinenet.com/christopher_reeve_and_spinal_cord_injury/views.htm

Fehlings, M. G. (n.d.). Spinal Cord Injury Prognosis.

Retrieved from https://www.spineuniverse.com/conditions/spinal-cord-injury/traumatic-spinal-cord-injury-prognosis-

what-you-need-know