A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function, such as mobility and/or feeling. Frequent causes of spinal cord injuries are trauma (car accident, gunshot, falls, etc.) or disease (polio, spina bifida, Friedreich's ataxia, etc.).

1. Ghaffar Ahmed
Lecturer INC
SPINAL INJURY

2. ANATOMY ANDPHYSIOLOGY

6. DEFINITION
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is
damage to the spinal cord that
results in a loss of function such
as mobility or feeling.

7. TYPES OF SPINAL CORDINJURY
Complete Spinal Cord Injuries
Complete paraplegia is described as
permanent loss of motor and nerve
function at T1 level or below, resulting in
loss of sensation and movement in the
legs, bowel, bladder, and sexual region.
Arms and hands retain normal function.

8. INCOMPLETE SPINAL CORD
INJURIES
Anterior cord syndrome

9. CENTRAL CORD SYNDROME

10. POSTERIOR CORD SYNDROME

11. BROWN-SEQUARD SYNDROME

12. CAUDA EQUINASYNDROME

13. RISK FACTORS
Men
Young adults and seniors
People who are active in sports
People with predisposing conditions

14. CAUSES:
Bullet or stab wound
Traumatic injury
Electric shock
Extreme twisting of the middle of the body
Landing on the head during a sports injury

15. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

16. CERVICAL (NECK) INJURIES
Breathingdifficulties
Loss of normal bowel and bladdercontrol
Numbness
Sensorychanges
Spasticity (increased muscletone)

17. THORACIC (CHEST LEVEL) INJURIES
Loss of normal bowel and bladdercontrol
Numbness
Sensorychanges
Spasticity (increased muscletone)
Weakness,paralysis

18. LUMBAR SACRAL (LOWER BACK)
INJURIES
Loss of normal bowel and bladder control (you may
have constipation, leakage, and bladder spasms)
Numbness
Pain
Sensory changes
Weakness and paralysis

19. ASSESSMENT

20. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Complete blood count (e.g. Hb, RBC,
WBC)
Arterial blood gas level
PaO2:85-95 mm of Hg
PaCO2:35-45 mm of Hg

21. X- RAYS:

22. COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY (CT)
SCANS

23. MAGNETIC RESONANCE
IMAGING (MRI):

25. MYELOGRAPHY:

26. POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
Blood pressure changes - can be extreme
(autonomic hyperreflexia)
Chronic kidney disease
Complications of immobility:
Deep vein thrombosis
Pulmonary infections
Skin breakdown
Contractures

27. Increased risk of urinary tract infections
Loss of bladder control
Loss of bowel control
Loss of sensation
Loss of sexual functioning (male
impotence)

28. Muscle spasticity
Paralysis of breathing muscles
Paralysis (paraplegia, quadriplegia)
Pressure sores
Shock

29. MEDICAL MANAGEMENT:
Whole blood
NS
RL
Hydrocortisone: Action :
steroids

30. Nor epinephrine
action: adrenergic drug
Epinephrine
action: α and β adrenergic drug
Dopamine
action: adrenergic, anti shock drug

31. SURGICAL MANAGEMENT

32. NURSING MANAGEMENT:

33. Impaired physical mobility related to
loss of motor function
Fluid volume deficit related to
decrease LOC
Risk for injury related to loss of
motor function

34. Urinary retention related to level ofinjury
Risk for Impaired skin integrity relatedto
trauma
Knowledge deficit regarding thetreatment
modalities and current situation.
Anxiety related to outcome of diseases as
evidenced by poor concentration on work,
isolation from others, rude behaviour

35. DIET PLAN

37. REHABILITATION
Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy
Speech Therapy
Mental Rehabilitation
Physical Exercise
Occupational Therapy

39. THANK YOU