spinal cord injuries
TRANSCRIPT
Faculty of applied medical scienceFaculty of Nursing
Undersupervison :
Dr :- Zienab Adham.
Student :Mostafa shakshak.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Outlines
•Introduction
•Definition of spinal cord injuries
•Anatomy and physiology
•Mechanism of injury
•Classifications: complete & incomplete
•Clinical Manifestations
•Management: medical, surgical and nursing
•Rehabilitation in spinal cord injury
Objectives:
At the end of this presentation each student will be able to:
•Determine the Anatomy and physiology of spinal cord
• Mention the Mechanism of injury of spinal cord injuries
•Classify the different types of spinal cord injuries
•List the Clinical Manifestations of spinal cord injuries
•Determine the Management: medical, surgical and nursing for
the spinal cord injuries
•Know what is the program for Rehabilitation in spinal cord
injury
Introduction
• The spinal cord is a collection of nerves thattravels from the bottom of the brain downyour back. There are 31 pairs of nerves thatleave the spinal cord and go to arms, legs,chest and abdomen. These nerves allow yourbrain to give commands to your muscles andcause movements of your arms and legs.
Definition of spinal cord injuries (SCI)
• abuse to spinal cord resulting in a change, in the normal motor, sensory or autonomic function. This change is either temporary or permanent.
Anatomy
• Composed of 33 vertebrae
• 7 cervical
• 12 thoracic
• 5 lumbar
• 5 sacrum (fused)
• 4 coccyx (fused)•Spinal cord lies in the spinal canal•Spinal nerve roots pass out through• the vertebral foramen
Spinal Column
Spinal Column
• Each vertebra consists of:
• Solid body
• Posterior and anterior arch
• Posterior spinous process
• Transverse process (in some
vertebrae)
Anatomy cont….
Adult skull
•Sits on top of first cervical vertebra (C1) (atlas)
•Second cervical vertebra (C2) (axis) and its Odontoid
process allow the head to move with about 180-
degree range of motion
Spinal Cord Gray matter- cell
bodies of voluntary and autonomic motor neurons
White matter axons of ascending and descending motor fibers
Spinal Cord• White tracts send
messages to and from the brain
• Ascending Tracts-– carry into higher
levels of CNS – touch, deep
pressure,vibration, position, temperature
• Descending Tracts– impulses for
voluntary muscle movement
Segmental Spinal Cord Level and Motor Function
Level Motor Function
C1-C6 Neck flexors
C1-T1 Neck extensors
C3, C4, C5 Supply diaphragm (mostly C4)
C5, C6Shoulder movement, raise arm (deltoid); flexion of elbow (biceps); C6 externally rotates the arm (supinates)
C6, C7Extends elbow and wrist (triceps and wrist extensors); pronates wrist
C7, T1 Flexes wrist
C7, T1 Supply small muscles of the hand
T1 -T6 Intercostals and trunk above the waist
T7-L1 Abdominal muscles
L1, L2, L3, L4 Thigh flexion
L2, L3, L4 Thigh adduction
L4, L5, S1 Thigh abduction
L5, S1, S2 Extension of leg at the hip (gluteus maximus)
L2, L3, L4Extension of leg at the knee (quadriceps femoris)
L4, L5, S1, S2 Flexion of leg at the knee (hamstrings)
L4, L5, S1 Dorsiflexion of foot (tibialis anterior)
L4, L5, S1 Extension of toes
L5, S1, S2 Plantar flexion of foot
L5, S1, S2 Flexion of toes
Etiology of Traumatic SCI
• MVA . motor vehicle accidents- most common cause
• Other: falls, violence, sport injuries
• SCI typically occurs from indirect injury from vertebral
bones compressing cord
• SCI frequently occur with head injuries
• Cord injury may be caused by direct trauma from knives,
bullets, etc
Etiology of Traumatic SCI
• 78% people with SCI are male
• Typically young men – 16-30
• Number of older adults rising (>61 yr)
• Greater complications
• Life Expectancy 5 years less than same age without injury
• 90% go home
Mechanism of injury
Types of movements that can cause spinal injury are:
•Hyperextension: the head is forced back.
•Hyperflexion: the head is forced forward.
•Axial loading: a severe blow to the top of the head.
Mechanism of injury cont…
•Compression: forces from above andbelow compress the vertebrae.
•Lateral bend: the head and neck arebent to one side beyond the range of motion.
•Overrotation and distraction: the headturns to one side, and the cervical vertebrae are forced beyond normal limits.
Classifications:
•Complete spinal injury:When complete injury occurs, motor and sensory function cease below the level of injury, pain, touch, temperature and inhalation are evaluated as part of sensory evaluation.
Incomplete spinal injury
1-Central Cord Syndrome
• Characteristics: Motor deficits (in the upper
extremities compared to the lower extremities;
sensory loss varies but is more pronounced in the
upper extremities); bowel/bladder dysfunction is
variable, or function may be completely preserved.
• Cause: Injury or edema of the central cord, usually
of the cervical area.
Incomplete spinal injury cont…
2-Anterior Cord Syndrome
• Characteristics: Loss of pain, temperature, and motor
function is noted below the level of the lesion; light touch,
position, and vibration sensation remain intact.
• Cause: The syndrome may be caused by acute disk
herniation or hyperflexion injuries associated with fracture-
dislocation of vertebra. It also may occur as a result of injury
to the anterior spinal
artery, which supplies the anterior two thirds of the spinal
cord.
Incomplete spinal injury cont…
3-Brown-Sequard Syndrome (Lateral Cord Syndrome)
• Characteristics: Ipsilateral paralysis or paresis is noted,
together with ipsilateral loss of touch, pressure, and
vibration and contralateral loss of pain and temperature.
• Cause: The lesion is caused by a transverse hemisection
of the cord (half of the cord is transected from north to
south), usually as a result of a knife or missile injury,
fracture dislocation of a unilateral articular process, or
possibly an acute ruptured disk.
Clinical Manifestations“Neurologic level” refers to the lowest level at which sensory and motor functions are normal.
Below the neurologic level loss of bladder and bowel control(usually with urinary retention and bladder distention) loss of sweating and vasomotor tonemarked reduction of bloodpressure from loss of peripheral vascular resistance. A complete spinal cord lesion can result in paraplegia (paralysis of the lower body) or quadriplegia (paralysis of all four extremities).
Assessment and diagnostic finding
• A detailed neurologic examination is performed.
• Diagnostic x-rays (lateral cervical spine x-rays)
• CT scanning are usually performed initially.
• An MRI scan may be ordered as a further workup
if a ligamentous injury is suspected
Management
Emergency Management
- a rapid assessment, immobilization, extrication, stabilization or control of life-threatening injuries, and transportation to the most appropriate medical facility
Management cont…
Acute Phase
-PHARMACOLOGIC THERAPY
-high-dose corticosteroids,
RESPIRATORY THERAPY
Oxygen is administered to maintain a high arterial PO2
If Endotracheal intubation is necessary, extreme care is
taken to avoid flexing or extending the patient’s
Management cont…Surgery
• Depending on the circumstances, whensurgery is required, it may be performedwithin 8 hours following injury. Surgery maybe considered if the spinal cord is compressedand when the spine requires stabilization. Thesurgeon decides the procedure that willprovide the greatest benefit for the patient.
Management cont…Surgery Management
• Early surgery, within 12 - 24 hours of the injury, is done when all body systems are stable, for:
• Evidence of cord compression
• Progressive neurological deficit
• Compound fracture of the vertebrae
• Penetrating wounds of the spinal cord
• Bony fragment in the spinal canal
Types of surgery include:
• Decompression laminectomies using anterior cervical and thoracic approaches with fusion, in which one or more laminae are removed to allow for cord expansion due to edema
• Posterior laminentomy using interspinous wiring and fusion with an autologous iliac bone graft, to immobilize the neck and prevent further damage to the spinal column from hypermobility of the vertebrae
• Posterior approach using an autologous fusion graft or the insertion of rods or other instruments, to correct and stabilize thoracic deformities
Halo & Orthotic devices:
•Some patients may have Halo devices applied bysurgeons, or a brace made by orthotics to maintaincorrect alignment of the spine. These devices are fixedto the child’s chest.
•Ensure you know how to open devices to performchest compressions in the event of a cardiac arrest, andthat spinal immobilization is maintained manuallythroughout any resuscitation
Skeletal Fracture Reduction and Traction
Cones Caliper Cervical or neck Traction
Gardner-Wells Tong
Tractions
Complication of SCI
These complications include:
• urinary tract infections or urinary incontinence (inability to control the flow of urine),
• bowel incontinence (inability to control bowel movements),
• pressure sores,
• infections in the lungs (pneumonia),
• blood clots,
• muscle spasms,
• chronic pain, and depression.
Pain Management
• Assess for pain
• Use a self-reported numeric rating if possible
• Ask about characteristics, location, onset
• Minimize evoked pain through careful handling
Pain Management
Planning and Goalsimproved breathing pattern and airway clearance
improved mobility
improved sensory and perceptual awareness
maintenance of skin integrity
relief of urinary retention
improved bowel function
promotion of comfort
absence of complications
Nursing InterventionsPromoting Adequate Breathing and Airway Clearance
Improving Mobility
Promoting Adaptation to Sensory and Perceptual Alterations
Maintain Skin Integrity
Maintaining Urinary Elimination
Improving Bowel Function
Providing Comfort Measures
Monitoring and Managing Potential Complications
Promoting Home and Community-Based Care
Rehabilitation in spinal cord injury
Thanks