Incomplete SCI

Central Cord Syndrome

• Cause due to a hyperextension injury

• Results in greater loss of upper extremity function compared to lower extremity function.

Brown-Sequard Syndrome

• Caused by a penetrating injury

• Result is ipsilateral (same side) paralysis

• Ipsilateral loss of proprioception and discriminative touch

• Contralateral loss of pain and temperature

Anterior Cord Syndrome

• Caused by flexion injuries

• Affects the anterior spinal tract (vestibulospinal tract) below the injury

• Motor, pain, and temperature are lost

• Touch, proprioception and vibration remain intact

Cauda Equina

• Damage to the lumbro-sacral nerve roots

• Result is a LMN lesion

• Flaccid paralysis with no spinal reflex activity

• Problem with bowel/bladder

• Variable bilateral extremity motor and sensory loss

Conus Medullaris

• Damage to the very type of the SC (L1)

• Low back pain or numbness in the groin or inner thighs

• Leg and foot numbness

• Weakness in legs

• Areflexic bowel and bladder