1. SPINAL INJURY
MANALI H SOLANKI
F.Y.M.SC.NURSING STUDENT
J G COLLEGE OF NURSING

2. ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

6. DEFINITION
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is
damage to the spinal cord that
results in a loss of function such
as mobility or feeling.

7. TYPES OF SPINAL CORD INJURY
 Complete Spinal Cord Injuries
Complete paraplegia is described as
permanent loss of motor and nerve
function at T1 level or below, resulting in
loss of sensation and movement in the
legs, bowel, bladder, and sexual region.
Arms and hands retain normal function.

8. INCOMPLETE SPINAL CORD
INJURIES
Anterior cord syndrome

9. CENTRAL CORD SYNDROME

10. POSTERIOR CORD SYNDROME

11. BROWN-SEQUARD SYNDROME

12. CAUDA EQUINA SYNDROME

13. RISK FACTORS
 Men
 Young adults and seniors
 People who are active in sports
 People with predisposing conditions

14. CAUSES:
 Bullet or stab wound
 Traumatic injury
 Electric shock
 Extreme twisting of the middle of the body
 Landing on the head during a sports injury
 Fall from a great height

15. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

16. CERVICAL (NECK) INJURIES
 Breathing difficulties
 Loss of normal bowel and bladder control
 Numbness
 Sensory changes
 Spasticity (increased muscle tone)

17. THORACIC (CHEST LEVEL) INJURIES
 Loss of normal bowel and bladder control
 Numbness
 Sensory changes
 Spasticity (increased muscle tone)
 Weakness, paralysis

18. LUMBAR SACRAL (LOWER BACK)
INJURIES
 Loss of normal bowel and bladder control (you may
have constipation, leakage, and bladder spasms)
 Numbness
 Pain
 Sensory changes
 Weakness and paralysis

19. ASSESSMENT

20. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
 Complete blood count (e.g. Hb, RBC,
WBC)
 Arterial
blood gas level
PaO2:85-95 mm of Hg
PaCO2:35-45 mm of Hg

21. X- RAYS:

22. COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY (CT)
SCANS

23. MAGNETIC RESONANCE
IMAGING (MRI):

25. MYELOGRAPHY:

26. POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
 Blood pressure changes - can be extreme
(autonomic hyperreflexia)
 Chronic kidney disease
 Complications of immobility:
Deep vein thrombosis
Pulmonary infections
Skin breakdown
 Contractures

27.  Increased risk of urinary tract infections
 Loss of bladder control
 Loss of bowel control
 Loss of sensation
 Loss
of sexual functioning (male
impotence)

28.  Muscle spasticity
 Paralysis of breathing muscles
 Paralysis (paraplegia, quadriplegia)
 Pressure sores
 Shock

29. MEDICAL MANAGEMENT:
 Whole blood
 NS
 RL
 Hydrocortisone:
Action : steroids

30.  Nor epinephrine
action: adrenergic drug
 Epinephrine
action: α and β adrenergic drug
 Dopamine
action: adrenergic, anti shock drug

31. SURGICAL MANAGEMENT

32. NURSING MANAGEMENT:

33.  Impaired physical mobility related to
loss of motor function
 Fluid
volume deficit related to
decrease LOC
 Risk
for injury related to loss of
motor function

34.  Urinary retention related to level of injury
 Risk for Impaired skin integrity related to
trauma
 Knowledge deficit regarding the treatment
modalities and current situation.
 Anxiety related to outcome of diseases as
evidenced by poor concentration on work,
isolation from others, rude behaviour

35. DIET PLAN

37. REHABILITATION
Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy
Speech Therapy
Mental Rehabilitation
Physical Exercise
Occupational Therapy

39. THANK YOU