spinal cord injury

Lecture No: 5
 What is spinal cord injury?

• A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the

spinal cord that causes temporary or permanent
changes in its function.
• Symptoms may include loss of muscle function,
sensation, or autonomic function in the parts of
the body served by the spinal cord below the level
of the injury.
 What is spinal cord injury?
• Depending on the :
1) Severity of the disease or injury (complete
or incomplete).
2) The loss of function may be (temporary or
permanent) changes in its function and
3) Based on the part of the body affected
 TYPE OF SPINAL CORD LSION
1) Based on severity

-Plegia= severe /complete loss of function (no

movement).
-paresis = mild or moderate weakens.
 Type of spinal cord injury
2) Based on the part of the body affected
 Type of spinal cord injury
2) Based on the part of the body affected
 Causes of spinal cord injury
• Spinal cord injury can be traumatic or non-traumatic.
• 1) traumatic such as:
– car accidents,
– gunshot wounds,
– falls, or
– sports injuries.
• 2) Non-traumatic causes such as:
– infection.
– insufficient blood flow, and
– tumors.
 Agenda
• What is spinal cord injury?
• What causes spinal cord injury?
• What are the types of spinal cord injury?
• What are the symptoms of spinal cord injury?
• How is spinal cord injury diagnosed?
• When to seek emergency care?
• How is spinal cord injury treated?
• What are the complications of spinal cord injury?
 The symptoms of spinal cord injury
• They depend on the type, degree and level of
injury and hence can be extremely variable.
• However, some of the common symptoms that
suggestion a spinal cord injury include:
• Loss of movement
• Loss or tingling sensation, including the ability to feel heat,
cold and touch
• Loss of bowel or bladder control and sexual dysfunction.
• Exaggerated muscle movement or spasms.
• Difficulty breathing or coughing
 How is spinal cord injury diagnosed?
• Commonly, a comprehensive :
• Medical history and physical examination help
identify the areas of movement and sensation loss.
• Neuroimaging :
• X-Ray
• CT scan
• MRI scan
Spinal cord injury
LMNL in upper limb and UMNL in lower
limb
What are the types of spinal cord injury?
Medical history and physical examination (Function of
spinal cord segments).
1) High level (C1-C4).
Respiratory
Level Motor Function
function
C1–C6 Neck flexors
C1–T1 Neck extensors
Supply
C3,C4,C5 diaphragm
(mostly C4)
Function after complete cervical spinal cord injury.
Respiratory
Level Motor Function
function
Cannot breathe
Full paralysis of the without
C1–C4 limbs(arms, hands, mechanical
trunk and legs).
ventilation
independently,
cough or control
bowel movements
or bladder
Impaired or
reduced ability to
speak
C5- C8
LESION

Can speak
and use
diaphragm,
but
breathing is
weakened
Function of cervical spinal cord segmenis
2)LOW Level Motor Function Respiratory function

Move shoulder,
raise arm (deltoid);
C5,C6 flex elbow
(biceps)
Extend elbow and
wrist (triceps and
C6,C7 wrist extensors);
pronate wrist
C7-T1 Flex wrist; supply
small muscles of the
hand
Function after complete cervical spinal cord injury[48]
Level Motor Function Respiratory function

Paralysis of the
C5 wrists, hands,
and triceps Difficulty coughing,
may need help
Paralysis of the
clearing secretions,
C6 wrist flexors,
Little or no voluntary
triceps, and hands
control of bowel or
Some hand muscle bladder
weakness, difficulty
C7–C8
grasping and
releasing
Why MRI? how long it extends
 The End

So Take a Deep Breath and

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Merci!