26/03/2025
UNDERSTANDING SPINAL CORD INJURY(SCI)
The spinal cord is a cylindrical bundle of nerve fibres and associated tissue which is enclosed in the spine and connects nearly all parts of the body to the brain, with which it forms the central nervous system.
■ What Is Spinal Cord Injury?
The spinal cord injury occurs when there is an insult to the spinal cord. The injury depending on the level of the spine where it occurs, and its effect will guide the classification of the injury.
● There are two main types of spinal cord Injury with subdivisions under each of the two.
1. Complete spinal cord injury :
• Paraplegia
• Tetraplegia or quadriplegia
• Triplegia
2. Incomplete spinal cord injury :
An incomplete spinal cord injury typically manifests in one of several ways.
● Anterior Cord Syndrome :
An anterior spinal cord injury affects the front of the spinal cord and interferes with motor and sensory pathways, including touch, pain and temperature. Many SCI survivors with anterior cord syndrome can recover some movement.
● Brown-Sequard Syndrome :
This rare, but serious, condition is a lesion on the spinal cord that results in the loss of some motor and sensory functions below the injury site. A Brown-Sequard spinal cord injury commonly asymmetrically affects the side of the body in which the spinal damage occurred.
● Cauda Equina Syndrome :
This condition affects the bundle of nerve roots around the lumbar level of the spinal cord and often is the result of spinal compression. It causes a loss of sensation and muscle weakness-but not necessarily a loss of movement. Repair or regeneration of some of the nerves is possible to help improve function.
● Central Cord Syndrome :
This syndrome occurs when an injury impacts the center of the cervical spinal cord. It often results in a loss of sensation. Survivors may recover some movement in their legs but arm movement recovery is rarer.
● Conus Medullaris Syndrome :
A affecting the sacral cord and lumbar nerve roots, this syndrome often affects control of excretory functions, lower limb reflexes, and often shares symptoms with cauda equina syndrome.
● Posterior Cord Syndrome :
This syndrome occurs due to damage to the rear of the spinal cord. Most survivors maintain good movement, muscle tone and posture. However, they often struggle with poor coordination skills.
