With respect to pathological conditions of the spinal cord, list 2 causes of and the clinical findings for each of the following syndromes:
You may tabulate your answer
Syndrome |
Aetiology |
Clinical Findings |
Complete |
Trauma, Infarction, Transverse |
Complete loss of motor and sensory function below level of the lesion |
Cord Hemisection |
Trauma, Multiple Sclerosis, |
Ipsilateral loss of motor and |
Central Cord |
Neck hyperextension, |
Motor impairment greater in upper limbs than lower |
Anterior Cord |
Hyperflexion, disc protusion, anterior spinal artery occlusion, Post AAA |
Motor function impairment, Pain and temperature loss, proprioception spared. |
Cauda Equina |
Disc protusion, tumour, infective |
Bladder/bowel dysfunction Altered sensation in saddle area, sexual dysfunction. |
This answer is mirrored by the discussion of spinal cord syndromes,which takes place elsewhere.
In brief:
Syndrome |
Characteristic features |
Causes |
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There are some causes which are generic for all these syndromes, and they will not be repeated in each box. These are:
Any of these can cause any of the spinal syndromes, anywhere. Instead of these, the causes listed below are the characteristic pathological processes which usually give rise to a specific spinal cord syndrome, eg. anterior spinal artery occlusion causing anterior spinal syndrome. |
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Cord transection |
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Cord hemisection |
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Anterior cord injury |
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Interruption of the blood supply to the anterior spinal cord:
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Posterior cord injury |
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Central cord syndrome |
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Conus medullaris syndrome |
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Cauda Equina syndrome |
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Wagner, Robert, and Andy Jagoda. "Spinal cord syndromes." Emergency medicine clinics of North America 15.3 (1997): 699-711.
Lin, Vernon W., et al. "Spinal Cord and Cauda Equina Syndromes." (2003).
Maynard, Frederick M., et al. "International standards for neurological and functional classification of spinal cord injury." Spinal cord 35.5 (1997): 266-274.