Cervical cord injuries- serious complications Chapter 16 12,000-person experience serious spinal cord injuries each year. Risk factors: 1. Male gender and age 16 to 30 are strong risk factors. 2. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of injury (36.5%) 3. Falls are the next most common cause (28.5%) 4. Violence, other events 5. Sports activities 6. Elderly Hemiplegia means loss of motor function on one side of the body. Paraplegia refers to loss of motor function of the lower extremities. Diplegia is the paralysis of both upper and lower extremities as a result of cerebral hemisphere injuries. Quadriplegia refers to paralysis of all four extremities. The five categories that are critical for the evaluation process for neurologic function include: (1) level of consciousness (LOC), (2) pattern of breathing, (3) size and reactivity of pupils, (4) eye position and reflexive response, and (5) muscle motor responses. Serious complications: Spinal Shock – below the site of the injury loss of reflex function, flaccid paralysis, absence of sensation, loss of bladder and rectal control, transient drop in blood pressure, and poor venous circulation. a. Disturbance in thermal control b. Individuals assume temperature of air (poikilothermia) c. Last 7 to 20 days or up to 3 months d. Reappearance of reflex activity, hyperreflexia, spasticity & reflex emptying of bladder Spinal shock does involve function of skeletal muscles resulting in paralysis and flaccidity. Such an injury is characterized by a complete loss of reflex function below the level of the lesion, and impairment of control of thermal regulation is observed. Neurogenic shock, also called vasogenic shock, occurs with cervical or upper thoracic cord injury above T5 and be seen in addition to spinal shock. e. Complications hypovolemic or cardiogenic shock with heart failure or blood loss