Acute Spinal Cord Dysfunction
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General Principles
- Spinal cord dysfunction is demonstrated by a level below which motor, sensory, and autonomic functions are interrupted.
- Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) may be obvious from history or examination but should also be considered in unconscious, confused, or inebriated patients with trauma.
- Spinal cord concussion refers to posttraumatic spinal cord symptoms and signs that resolve rapidly (hours to days).
Etiology
See Table 27-8.
Structural
|
Ischemia/infarction (particularly after aortic surgery)
|
Toxic
|
Vascular malformations (e.g., AVM) Inflammatory/infectious (transverse myelitis)
|
AVM, arteriovenous malformation; CMV, cytomegalovirus; CRMP-5, collapsing response mediator protein 5; HSV, herpes simplex virus; TB, tuberculosis; VZV, varicella-zoster virus; WNV, West Nile virus.
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General Principles
- Spinal cord dysfunction is demonstrated by a level below which motor, sensory, and autonomic functions are interrupted.
- Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) may be obvious from history or examination but should also be considered in unconscious, confused, or inebriated patients with trauma.
- Spinal cord concussion refers to posttraumatic spinal cord symptoms and signs that resolve rapidly (hours to days).
Etiology
See Table 27-8.
Structural
|
Ischemia/infarction (particularly after aortic surgery)
|
Toxic
|
Vascular malformations (e.g., AVM) Inflammatory/infectious (transverse myelitis)
|
AVM, arteriovenous malformation; CMV, cytomegalovirus; CRMP-5, collapsing response mediator protein 5; HSV, herpes simplex virus; TB, tuberculosis; VZV, varicella-zoster virus; WNV, West Nile virus.
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