Spinal cord injury Flashcards
Tracts affected in central spinal cord syndrome
Bilateral central corticospinal tracts and lateral spinothalamic tracts
Causes of central spinal cord syndrome?
Hyperextension injury (e.g., car crash) associated with chronic cervical spondylosis
Spinal cord compression
Clinical features of central spinal cord syndrome?
Bilateral paresis: upper > lower extremities
Lateral corticospinal tracts go from cervical to sacral (medial to laterally)
Tracts affected in anterior spinal cord syndrome
Corticospinal and spinothalamic tracts
Causes of anterior spinal cord syndrome?
Trauma (e.g., penetrating injury, burst fracture of vertebra)
Occlusion of anterior spinal artery
Clinical features of anterior spinal cord syndrome?
Bilateral motor paralysis, loss of pain and temperature sensation, and autonomic dysfunction below the level of the lesion
Tracts affected in posterior spinal cord syndrome?
Bilateral posterior columns
Causes of posterior spinal cord syndrome?
Trauma (e.g., penetrating injury)
Occlusion of the posterior spinal artery
Multiple sclerosis
Clinical features of posterior spinal cord syndrome?
Ipsilateral loss of proprioception, vibration, and touch sensation below the level of the lesion
Tracts affected in Brown-Sequard syndrome?
Hemisection of the cord
Causes of Brown-Sequard syndrome?
Trauma (e.g., penetrating injury)
Spinal cord compression
Clinical features of Brown-Sequard syndrome?
Ipsilateral
Loss of proprioception, vibration, and tactile discrimination below the level of the lesion
Segmental flaccid paresis at the level of the lesion, spastic paralysis below the level of the lesion , and ipsilateral Babinski sign
Horner syndrome in lesions above T1
Contralateral: loss of pain and temperature sensation one or two levels below lesion
