Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Lecture Notes

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the causes, mechanisms, levels of injury, and medical management of Spinal Cord Injuries as described in the lecture.

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

An injury usually due to trauma, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, violent acts, and sports injuries.

Hyperflexion injury

A mechanism of SCI in which the head strikes against a steering wheel, resulting in forward dislocation of the vertebra.

Hyperextension injury

A mechanism of SCI in which the head is thrown back, leading to transection of the spinal cord.

Compression injury

SCI caused by falls or jumps where the force of impact fractures the vertebra.

Complete spinal cord injury

An injury resulting in total loss of sensation and movement below the level of injury.

C1-C3 injury consequences

Paralysis and no sensation below the neck.

C4-C5 injury consequences

Ventilation support is required and no sensation is felt below the clavicle.

C6-C8 injury consequences

Possible diaphragmatic breathing and some elbow to wrist movements; chest sensation is impaired.

T1-T6 injury consequences

Paralysis below the waist and no sensation below the midchest.

T7-T12 injury consequences

Varying degrees of trunk and abdominal control and varying sensation below the waist.

L1-L2 injury consequences

Impaired hip adduction and no sensation below the lower abdomen.

L3-L5 injury consequences

Impaired knee and ankle movement and no sensation below the upper thighs.

S1-S5 injury consequences

No sensation in the perineum and varying degrees of bowel control, bladder control, and sexual dysfunction.

Autonomic Dysreflexia

A life-threatening syndrome where multiple spinal cord autonomic responses discharge simultaneously, often characterized by hypertension, bradycardia, and diaphoresis.

Spinal Shock

The immediate response to cord transection lasting $1-6$ weeks, characterized by loss of skeletal muscle function, reflexes, and the body assuming environmental temperature.

Methyl-prednisolone

A short-term high-dose corticosteroid administered within $8$ hours of SCI to reduce spinal cord edema.

Logrolling maneuver

A specific technique used to move a client with SCI to maintain spinal alignment before and during transfer.

Edema timing in SCI

Develops within the first hours, peaks within $2$ to $3$ days, and subsides within the first $7$ days after injury.

Incomplete injury types

Includes central cord syndrome, anterior cord syndrome, Brown-Séquard syndrome, injuries to individual nerve cells, and spinal contusions.