spinal cord injuries
DESCRIPTION
Spinal Cord Injuries. Condition:. Spinal cord injury defined as injury within neural canal from Foramen Magnum to Cauda Equine Does not include brachial nor lumbar plexus distally. Demographics:. 10,000 new cases per year Average age 19.7 yrs old Males 82% Females 18% - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
SPINAL CORD INJURIES
• Spinal cord injury defined as injurywithin neural canal from Foramen Magnum to Cauda Equine
• Does not include brachial nor lumbar plexus distally
Condition:
Demographics:
• 10,000 new cases per year• Average age 19.7 yrs old• Males 82% Females 18%• Typical victim white male –
greater proportion of non-Caucasians when compared to general population
37.2% - Auto Accidents
67% of children w/ auto accident SCI were not wearing a seat belt
26.8%Violence
21% - Falls
7.1% Sports Injuries
Diving #1 Sports
Injury
Remaining 7.9% assorted causes
Over 25% of all Spinal Cord Injuries have alcohol as a factor
Signs & Symptoms:
I can’t feel my legs!
Loss of Sensation identified by patient or through testing
Diagnosis:
Prevention:
• Wear Seat Belt ALWAYS
• Use care on ladders or in elevated locations – use the handrail on stairs
• Only dive where you know it is deep enough
Prognosis:Fifty years ago a spinal cord injury meant a sure death within a few years.
Now those having Spinal Cord Injuries
can live a long and productive life.
PARAPLEGIA, QUADRIPLEGIA
Living with a Spinal Cord Injury
• Over 250,000 people living with spinal cord injuries
• Specific health problems need to be monitored
Initial Care
• Save Life – ABCs
• Stabilize spine• Decompress
spine
Rehabilitation
• Physical Therapy to
rehabilitate muscles
• Occupational Therapy to rehabilitate life skills
Chronic Problems of SCI
• Joint Contracture• Pressure Ulceration• GI and GU Management• Autonomic Dysreflexia• Deep Vein Thrombosis• Pulmonary Embolism
Joint Contracture
• Continued movement of affected joints
Pressure Ulceration
• Constant repositioning of affected areas
GI & GU Management
• One-third of all SCI patients rated loss of bowel and bladder function as a greater loss than the use of their legs
Genitourinary Management
• Retention of Waste products
Autonomic Dysreflexia
• Body sends out messages that are incorrect to control centers of brain resulting in errors in homeostasis management
Thrombosis & Embolism
• Blood does not flow normally to a paralyzed limb. The blood pools and forms clots, a condition known as deep vein thrombosis. A clot or thrombus can break free and lodge in smaller arteries in the brain, causing a stroke, or in the lungs, causing pulmonary embolism.
Treatment, Prognosis, Prevention
• Thorough ROS with each appt• Patient Education a must• Watch for clues of problems• Health Maintenance• Find resources for Patient
• BE PROACTIVE!!