29/06/2025
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙄𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙧𝙮 (SCI)
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord resulting in partial or complete loss of motor, sensory, and autonomic function below the level of the lesion. It can be traumatic (e.g., road traffic accidents, falls) or non-traumatic (e.g., tumors, infections).
𝘼𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙮 of the Spinal Cord:
•Extends from the foramen magnum to the L1–L2 vertebral level.
•Divided into segments:
-Cervical (C1–C8)
-Thoracic (T1–T12)
-Lumbar (L1–L5)
-Sacral (S1–S5)
-Coccygeal
Injury at a specific level affects all the segments below.
𝙏𝙮𝙥𝙚𝙨 of Spinal Cord Injury:
1. Based on Cause:
•Traumatic: Fracture, dislocation, penetrating injury.
•Non-Traumatic: Tumors, infections (TB, HIV), degenerative diseases, ischemia.
2. Based on Severity:
•Complete SCI: No sensory or motor function preserved below injury level (ASIA A).
•Incomplete SCI: Some function remains below injury level (ASIA B–D).
𝘼𝙎𝙄𝘼 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙎𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙚 (AIS):
Grade -Description
'𝘼' Complete – No motor/sensory function below injury level
'𝘽' Incomplete – Sensory preserved, no motor
'𝘾' Incomplete – Motor preserved, muscle grade ❤
'𝘿' Incomplete – Motor preserved, muscle grade ≥3
'𝙀' Normal function
𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙄𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚 𝙎𝘾𝙄:
Syndrome Features
1) Central Cord Syndrome UE weakness > LE, bladder dysfunction
2) Anterior Cord Syndrome Loss of motor, pain, and temp; sparing of proprioception
3) Brown-Séquard Syndrome Ipsilateral motor loss, contralateral pain/temp loss
4) Posterior Cord Syndrome Loss of proprioception, preserved motor
5) Conus Medullaris Syndrome Saddle anesthesia, bladder/bowel dysfunction, LE weakness
6) Cauda Equina Syndrome LMN signs, radicular pain, areflexic bladder/bowel
𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙁𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨
•Motor loss: Paralysis or paresis
•Sensory loss: Pain, temperature, touch, proprioception
•Autonomic dysfunction: Bladder, bowel, sexual dysfunction
•Spasticity: In upper motor neuron lesions
•Pressure sores, contractures, DVT, respiratory issues (especially cervical injuries)
𝘿𝙞𝙖𝙜𝙣𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙨:
-Neurological examination: ASIA scale
-Radiological imaging: MRI (preferred), CT, X-rays
-Evoked potentials (in some cases)
𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩
•Acute Phase:
-Immobilization and stabilization (e.g., spine board, collars)
-Methylprednisolone (controversial)
-Surgical decompression if indicated
-Bladder and bowel care
-DVT prophylaxis
-Respiratory support (esp. for high cervical injuries)
-Rehabilitation Phase (Physiotherapy Focus):
𝙂𝙤𝙖𝙡𝙨
-Prevent secondary complications
-Restore function
-Promote independence in ADLs
-Psychological support
𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨:
1) Domain Intervention
2) Positioning To prevent pressure sores and contractures
3) Range of Motion (ROM) Passive and active ROM to maintain flexibility
4) Strengthening Strengthen unaffected muscles, use of therabands
5) Respiratory therapy Diaphragmatic breathing, coughing techniques
6) Gait training Parallel bars, orthoses, functional electrical stimulation
7) Functional training Wheelchair mobility, bed mobility, transfers
😎 ADL training Dressing, grooming, toileting with adaptive techniques
9) Spasticity management Stretching, TENS, medications like baclofen
10) Assistive devices Wheelchair, walker, braces
11) Neuro-rehabilitation techniques PNF, NDT, task-oriented training
𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧
-Pressure ulcers
-Autonomic dysreflexia (especially in injuries above T6)
-Respiratory infections
-Deep vein thrombosis
-Osteoporosis
-Bladder & bowel incontinence
𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙨
-Better in incomplete injuries
-Depends on level, severity, and early rehab
-Cervical injuries may lead to tetraplegia
-Lower thoracic/lumbar may result in paraplegia
𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨
-Neuroplasticity-based rehab
-Robotic exoskeletons
-Spinal cord stimulation
-Stem cell therapy (under trial)
-Brain-computer interfaces