In addition to neck pain, he is having difficulty moving his legs. Your senior resident is stuck in the operating room, so she asks you to evaluate the patient and report back to her. Incidence of traumatic SCI between 5,000 and 10,000 annually. Associated head injuries are very common. Screen with mini mental status, but may need formal neuropsych testing.
Traction can reduce cervical dislocations, decreasing pressure on the cord.
ASIA E - Normal motor and sensory function Functional recovery can be rapid in the first one to two weeks, as edema and conduction block resolve and latent pathways are activated. Decompression, spinal alignment and fixation may also influence early functional recovery. Nervous system reorganization, sprouting and muscle hypertrophy can contribute to longer term functional gains. Functional independence can be achieved with injuries at C6 or below. Virchow's Triad - venous stasis, hypercoagulability, and vessel injury.