This document discusses spinal cord injuries, including their definition, causes, and common syndromes. The most common cause of traumatic spinal cord injury is motor vehicle accidents, while non-traumatic causes include cervical spondylosis and tumors. Diagnostic tests include x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. Treatment involves high-dose corticosteroids, respiratory therapy, and surgical procedures like decompression laminectomy to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots. Complications can include blood clots, infections, skin breakdown, incontinence, and chronic pain.

1. SPINAL CORD
INJURIES
SUDESHNA BANERJEE DUTTA
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
S.R.S.V.M CON

2. DEFINITION
➢ Spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the
spinal cord that resulting in a change, in
the normal motor, sensory or autonomic
function.
➢ This change is either temporary or
permanent.

3. ETIOLOGY OF TRAUMATIC SCI
❖ Motor vehicle accidents- most common cause
❖ Other: falls, violence, sports injuries, industrial
accidents, physical assaults
❖ SCI frequently occur with head injuries
❖ Cord injury may be caused by direct trauma from
knives, bullets, etc

4. ETIOLOGY cont…
Non traumatic causes:
❖ Cervical spondylosis (wear and tear to the spine. It
happens when discs and joints degenerate) with
myelopathy injury to the spinal cord due to severe
compression)
❖ Infective myelitis (inflammation of spinal cord)
❖ Tumors

5. SPINAL
CORD
SYNDROMES

9. Brown-Sequard Syndrome (Lateral Cord
Syndrome)
❖ Half of the cord is transected usually as a result of a
knife or missile injury, fracture, dislocation, or
possibly an acute ruptured disc.
❖ Paralysis or paresis is noted, together with loss of
touch, pressure, vibration, loss of pain and
temperature.

10. Conus medullaris syndrome
❖ It follows damage to the lumbar nerve groups in
the spinal cord.
❖ The client usually has bowel & bladder areflexia
(a condition in which muscles don't respond to
stimuli) & flaccid lower extremities.

11. Cauda equina syndrome
❖ Injury to the lumbo-sacral nerve groups
causes this syndrome.
❖ Here also, The client usually has bowel &
bladder areflexia & flaccid lower extremities.

12. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
❖ Cervical spine X-Ray
❖ CT scan
❖ MRI scan

13. PHARMACOLOGIC THERAPY
❖ High-dose corticosteroids
❖ RESPIRATORY THERAPY Oxygen is
administered to maintain a high arterial PO2
If Endo-tracheal intubation is necessary,
extreme care is taken to avoid flexing or
extending the patient

14. SURGICAL MANAGEMENT
 Decompression laminectomy: This surgery is done
to relieve pressure on the spinal nerve roots caused
by age-related changes in the spine. It also is done to
treat other conditions, such as injuries to the
spine, herniated discs, or tumors. In many cases,
reducing pressure on the nerve roots can relieve
pain and allow you to resume normal daily activities.
 Laminectomy removes bone (parts of the vertebrae)
and/or thickened tissue that is narrowing the spinal
canal and squeezing the spinal nerve roots. This
procedure is done by surgically cutting into the back.

15.  Posterior laminectomy
 The objective of this procedure is to
remove the lamina (and spinous
process) to give the spinal cord
more room.

16. Complications
➢ Deep vein thrombosis
➢ Pulmonary infections
➢ Skin breakdown
➢ Contractures
➢ Urinary tract infections or urinary incontinence
➢ Bowel incontinence
➢ Pressure sores
➢ Chronic pain & depression.