Editing Spinal injuries (section)

== Terminology ==

* Complete spinal cord injury - no demonstrable sensory or motor function below a certain level
* Incomplete - some degree remains
* Neurogenic shock - loss of vasomotor tone and sympathetic innervation to the heart (T6 and above)
** Results in bradycardia, lack of sympathetic response to hypovolaemia
* Spinal shock - flaccidity and loss of reflexes that occurs immediately after spinal cord injury
* Central cord syndrome - disproportionately greater loss of motor strength in upper extremities than lower extremities
** Occurs after hyperextension when there is pre-existing cervical canal stenosis
** Common after a fall forwards onto face in elderly patient
* Anterior cord syndrome - loss of motor, pain and temperature innervation, but preservation of position, vibration and temperature sensation (dorsal column)
** Common after cord ischaemia
* Brown-Sequard syndrome - hemisection of the cord - ipsilateral motor loss (corticospinal tract) and loss of position sense (dorsal column), contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation beginning one to two levels lower (spinothalamic tract)
* Unstable injury - radiographic injury or any neurologic deficits (at least initially)