Question

A teenager sustained a C-3 spinal cord injury in a diving accident. The patient is immobile. What are the differences between spinal cord injuries that occur at the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar levels? What are the main complications that are common after spinal cord injuries? List eight effect immobility has on a patient who is paralyzed. Put these in order of priority based on bodily function.

Answer 1

the difference between the different spinal cord injury levels are depends mainly on the nerve root that is rise from that level like in the case of cervical injury the nerve root of cervical vertebra mainly supplier the upper limb, while the thoracic vertebra supply the chest and abdomen, lumbar vertebra suplly thhigh and lower leg , and sacral supply pelvis and foot. So whenever these nerve root are involved which lead to loss of both motor and sensory neurones therefore there is no transmission of sensation from peripeheral to central nervous system,is the nerve root of the cervical thoracic lumbar and sacral vertebra involved there will be loss of fine touch and vibration from dorsal column and loss of pain and temperature from spinothalamic tract also there is loss of corticospinal tract which lead to motor paralysis.due to the involvement of the corticospinal tract there will be immobility to the corresponding Limbs like in case of cervical injury there will be involvement of both upper lips while in case of lumbar and sacral involvement there is involvement of both the lower Limb,the effects which occurs following the immobility of the paralyzed Limb will lead to development of the deep vein thrombosis and development of bed sores, when the injury occurs at the level of the spinal cord it will be a lower motor neurone type of paralysis so there will be loss of muscle mass and wasting of muscles akka there is absent of all the reflexes like deep tendon reflexes and plantar reflex S in the upper Limb there is loss of biceps triceps and brachioradialis reflex, also the involve area due to loss of sensation will be prone to injury and development of the various type of ulcers.