With respect to pathological conditions of the spinal cord, for each of the following syndromes, list two causes and the clinical findings:
(You may tabulate your answer.)
(20% marks per syndrome)
Syndrome | Aetiology | Clinical Findings |
Complete Transection | Trauma, Infarction, Transverse myelitis, Abscess, Tumour | Complete loss of motor and sensory function below level of the lesion |
Cord Hemisection | Trauma, Tumour, Multiple sclerosis, Abscess | Ipsilateral loss of motor and proprioception. Contralateral pain and temperature loss |
Central Cord | Neck hyperextension, Syringomyelia, Tumour | Motor impairment greater in upper limbs than lower Variable sensory loss, bladder dysfunction |
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, Infection | Bladder/bowel dysfunction Altered sensation in saddle area, sexual dysfunction |
The Important spinal cord injury syndromes chapter from the Required Reading section contains a table of spinal cord injury syndromes, which is reproduced below to simplify revision.
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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