Spinal cord injury

Background

Anatomy

• Doral columns
  • Proprioception, vibration touch
  • Decussation at medulla
• Corticospinal Tract
  • Voluntary motor
    • Upper extremity fibers more central, lower extremity fibers more lateral
  • Decussation at medulla
• Spinothalamic
  • Pain, temp, touch
  • Decussates one level above entry point to spinal cord

Spinal Cord Syndromes

Complete Transection

• Higher lesions are a/w spinal shock and autonomic dysfunction
• Priapism implies a complete injury
• Sacral sparing excludes complete transection
  • Perianal sensation, rectal tone, bulbocavernosus/cremasteric reflexes

Anterior Cord

• Etiology
  • Direct anterior cord compression
  • Flexion of cervical spine
  • Thrombosis of anterior spinal artery
• Symptoms
  • Complete paralysis below the lesion with loss of pain and temperature sensation
  • Preservation of proprioception and vibratory function
• Prognosis poor

Central Cord

• Etiology
  • Hyperextension injuries
  • Disruption of blood flow to the spinal cord
  • Cervical spinal stenosis
• Symptoms
  • Quadriparesis (greater in upper extremities than lower extremities)
  • Some loss of pain and temperature sensation also greater in the upper extremities
• Prognosis good

Brown-Sequard

• Etiology
  • Transverse hemisection of spinal cord
  • Unilateral cord compression
• Symptoms
  • Ipsilateral spastic paresis
  • Loss of proprioception and vibratory sensation
  • Contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation
• Prognosis good

Cauda Equina

• Etiology
  • Peripheral nerve injury
• Symptoms
  • Variable motor and sensory loss in the lower extremities
  • Sciatica
  • Bowel/bladder dysfunction
  • Saddle anesthesia
• Prognosis good

See Also

Spinal Cord Trauma