Spinal Cord Lesion And Syndromes

Question 1

Transverse cord lesion

Answer 1

All sensory motor pathways are either partially or completely disrupted.
Due to trauma tumor, multiple sclerosis, and transverse myelitis .

Question 2

Brown sequard syndrome

Answer 2

Caused by: gunshot wound or tumor
Lateral corticospinal tract affected
DCML affected
Spinothalamic affected
Ipsilateral side:
Upper motor neuron weakness with sensory loss of DCML

Contralateral:
Sensory loss of pain and temperature(spinothalamic) 2 segments below the actual lesion dt lissaures tract

Question 3

Muscle dysfunction

Answer 3

Impaired movements
Spontaneous movements
Coordination defects
Abnormal reflexes
Muscle tone weakness
Postural and movement distortion

Weakness, wasting and paralysis may be present.

Question 4

Spinal cord lesion

Answer 4

Causes:
Inflammatory: Ms, transverse myelitis
Infective: HIV infection
Compressive: tumor, disc protrusion, abscess
Vascular: infarction

Question 5

Anterior horn cell disorders

Answer 5

Pure motor lesion involving a specific myotome ex: C6
Causes: Poliovirus, LMNL with no sensory change. West Nile virus

Symptoms: LMNL
Flaccid paralysis
Hypotonia
Hyporeflexia
Fasciculations

Question 6

Neuromuscular junction disorders

Answer 6

Myasthenia gravis
Lambert Eaton syndrome
Botulism

Question 7

Muscle disorders

Answer 7

Muscular dystrophies
Myopathy
Acute hypo/hyperkalemia

Question 8

Central cord syndrome

Answer 8

Most common lesion! In Cx or tx
Cause: syringomyelia(Arnold chiari malformation), hyperextension, RTA
Bilateral Umnl-anything below the level affected
Spastic paralysis
Hypertonia
Hyperreflexa
Upper limb more affected than lower.

Bilateral LMNL- at lesion level anything below is affected.
Horners syndrome-ptosis, miosis and anhidrosis

Bilateral loss of pain and temperature at level and below.
Cape pattern-syringomyelia

Question 9

Posterior cord syndrome

Answer 9

More rare!
Caused by Syphillis, fredrichs ataxia, Ms, B12
Affects DCML
Bilateral of Affects:
proprioception, vibration, sensory ataxia

Question 10

Anterior cord syndrome

Answer 10

MC Lower tx
Caused by: Anterior spinal artery occlusion, thrombus, embolism, trauma (hyperflexion)-> RTA
Damage to descending autonomic fibers.
Causes:
Fecal and urinary incontinence
Loss in corticospinal tract- Bilateral UMNL
Bilateral LMNL at level affected
Bilateral Spinothalamic loss
Only thing kept is DCML