Spine Injuries Flashcards
What is spinal shock
‘temporary’ paralysis: describes the phenomenon of a patient regaining function in the spinal level above the injury and this often occurs over a year
What is neurogenic shock
Type of distributive shock
Lesion above T6 results in loss of innervation to the adrenals leading to unopposed parasympathetics
How would someone with neurogenic shock present
warm and perfused (vasodilation)
bradycardic
hypotensive
Which spinal tracts decussate at the medulla and which at the level of exiting the cord. What does this mean in terms of signs if the cord is damaged
DCML and corticospinal - medulla (ipsilateral signs)
spinothalamic - at the level (contralateral signs)
How would someone with Brown-Sequard present
ipsilateral hemiparesis and loss of proprioception and vibration
contralateral loss of pain and temperature
How would an anterior cord syndrome present
bilateral loss of pain, temperature and motor
How would a posterior cord syndrome present
bilateral loss of vibration and proprioception
How would a central cord syndrome present
arms affected more than legs
motor affected more than sensory
What is a burst/jefferson fracture and what injury mechanism causes it?
Burst fracture of C1 anterior and posterior arches bilaterally
axial load eg diving into a pool head first
What is the most common mechanism for an ondontoid fracture?
elderly person falling forward and not putting their hands out quick enough leading to hyperextension
Describe a hangmans fracture
bilateral fracture through the pars interarticularis of C2
What injury mechanism can lead to a hangmans fracture
hyperextension with an axial load under the chin (hanging, RTC, hanging)
