The document provides information on spinal cord injury, including: - The anatomy and physiology of the spinal cord, including its segments, grey and white matter, and dermatomes and myotomes. - The classification of spinal cord injuries as complete or incomplete (including types of incomplete injuries like anterior cord syndrome), and types of paralysis. - The causes, risk factors, signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests, and medical and surgical management of spinal cord injuries. - Nursing diagnoses and complications related to spinal cord injuries.

1. PRESENTED BY:
BANASHREE HAWAIBAM
FINAL YEAR M.SC NURSING
MEDICAL SURGICAL NURSING
B.V.C.O.N.PUNE-43
SPINAL CORD INJURY

2. Anatomy :
Spinal cord:
 Extends from medulla oblongata – L1
 Lower part tapered to form conus medullaris

3.  Anatomy of spinal cord:

4. Anatomy :
On the surface :
 Deep anterior median fissure.
 Shallower posterior median sulcus.
Spinal cord segment :
 Section of the cord from which a pair of spinal
nerves are given off.

6. Anatomy :
 Dorsal root – sensory fibres
 Ventral root – motor fibres
 Dorsal and ventral roots join at intervertebral
foramen to form the spinal nerve

8. Physiology and function
 Grey matter - sensory and motor nerve cells
 White matter - ascending and descending
tracts
 Divided into - dorsal
- lateral
- ventral

9. Dermatomes
 Area of skin innervated by sensory axons within a
particular segmental nerve root
 Knowledge is essential in determining level of injury
 Useful in assessing improvement or deterioration

10. Myotomes :
 Segmental nerve root innervating a muscle
 Again important in determining level of injury
 Upper limbs:
C5 - Deltoid
C 6 - Wrist extensors
C 7 - Elbow extensors
C 8 - Long finger flexors
T 1 - Small hand muscles

11. Myotomes contd.
 Lower Limbs :
L2 - Hip flexors
L3,4 - Knee extensors
L4,5 – S1 - Knee flexion
L5 - Ankle dorsiflexion
S1 - Ankle plantar flexion

12. SPINAL CORD INJURY
 DEFINITION:
 Spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord that
results in a loss of function such as mobility or
feeling.
 The cervical and lumbar vertebrae are the most
common sites of injury.

13. ETIOLOGY
1. Vehicular accidents (35%)
2.Violence (24%)
3.Falls (22%)
4.Sports injury (8%)
5.Gunshots.

14. RISK FACTORS
 Male sex
 Age between 18 to 25 years.

15. Classification
Complete
 absence of sensory & motor function in lowest
sacral segment after resolution of spinal shock
Incomplete
 presence of sensory & motor function in lowest
sacral segment (indicates preserved function below
the defined neurological level)

16. Types of incomplete injuries
i) Anterior Cord Syndrome
ii) Central Cord Syndrome
iii) Brown – Sequard Syndrome
iv) Herniated disc Syndrome

17. Classification
Incomplete SCI syndromes
 Herniated disc Syndrome:
 Displacement of the disc with the escape of cartilage.

18. Classification
Incomplete SCI syndromes
Anterior Cord Syndrome
 Motor loss
 Vibration/position
spared
 Flexion injuries
 Poor prognosis for
recovery

19. Classification
Incomplete SCI syndromes
Central Cord Syndrome
 Motor loss UE>LE
 Hands affected
 Common in elderly w/
pre-existing spondylosis
and cervical stenosis.
 Substantial recovery can
be expected.

20. Classification
Incomplete SCI syndromes
Brown Sequard
 Ipsilateral motor,
proprioception loss.
 Contralateral pain,
temperature loss.
 Penetrating injuries.
 Good prognosis for
ambulation.

21. Types of Spinal Cord Paralysis
1.Monoplegia:paralysis of one limb
2.Diplegia:paralysis of both upper or lower limbs
3.Paraplegia:paralysis of both lower extremities
4.Hemiplegia:paralysis of upper limb,torso and
lower leg on one side of the body.
5.Quadriplegia:paralysis of all four limbs.

23. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:
1.Impaired breathing.
2.Extreme back pain or pressure in the neck,head or
back.
3.Weakness,incordination.
4.Numbness,tingling or loss of sensation.
5.Loss of bladder or bladder control.
6.Difficulty with balance and walking.
7.Sexual impairment.
8.Muscle spasm.

24. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS:
1.X-ray films
2.Spinal tap or myelography.
3.CT Scan
4.MRI

25. MANAGEMENT:
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT:
1.Adrenal corticosteriods.
2.Cervical collar,the head is immobilised.
3.Back is immobilised with back support.
4.Traction with weighs and pulleys.

26. SURGICAL MANAGEMENT
1. Surgical decompression.
2.Fixation or stabilization with a steel rod.
3.External immobilization with a brace or cast.

27. NURSING DIAGNOSIS
1.Ineffective airway clearence related to paralysis of
respiratory,chest and abdominal muscle.
2.Ineffective breathing pattern related to paralysis of
respiratory,chest and abdominal muscle.
3.Acute pain related to irritated nerve root and soft
tissue injury.
4.Impaired physical mobility related to loss of motor
function.
5.Disturbed sensory perception related to motor and
sensory impairment.

28. NURSING DIAGNOSIS
6.Impaired urinary elimination related to inability to
void spontaneously.
7.Constipation related to presence of atonic bowel as a
result of autonomic disruption.
8.Risk of impaired skin integrity related to immobility
and sensory loss.
9.Anxiety related to prognosis of neurological deficits.

29. COMPLICATIONS
IMMEDIATE COMPLICATION:
1.Respiratory arrest.
2.Spinal shock.
LONG TERM COMPLICATIONS:
1.Autonomic dysreflexia.
2.Pressure ulcers.
3.Contractures
4.Respiratory tract infection.

30. COMPLICATIONS CONTD.
5.Urinary tract infection.
6.Calcium loss from the bones.
7.Renal calculi formation.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_cord
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spinalcordinj
uries.html
http://stemcellstm.alphamedpress.org/content/earl
y/2015/02/15/sctm.2014-0107.short

33.  Sudhakar Vadivelu, Todd J. Stewart, Kevin Horn, Qun Li et al . Stem
Cells Translational Medicine.NG2+ Progenitors Derived From
Embryonic Stem Cells Penetrate Glial Scar and Promote Axonal
Outgrowth Into White Matter After Spinal Cord Injury.March 2015
4(3).
 Jeannette Spalding. Journal Nature. Peptide Shows Great Promise for
Treating Spinal Cord Injury .December 3, 2014

34. THANK YOU