and bowel control (usually with urinary retention and bladder distention), loss of
sweating and vasomotor tone, & marked reduction of blood pressure.
— Complete spinal cord lesion (total loss of sensation and voluntary muscle control
below the lesion): paraplegia or tetraplegia.
— If conscious, the patient usually complains of acute pain in the back or neck
Spinal and Neurogenic Shock
- Spinal shock
- A sudden depression of reflex activity below the level of spinal injury
- develops due to the loss of autonomic nervous system function below the level of the
lesion
- Muscular flaccidity, lack of sensation and reflexes
- Neurogenic shock
- Due to the loss of function of the autonomic nervous system
- Blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output decrease
- Venous pooling occurs due to peripheral vasodilation
- Paralyzed portions of the body do not perspire
Medical Management: Acute Phase
- Goals:
- Prevent further SCI and observe for signs of neurological deficit
- High dose corticosteroids (controversial)
- Research is continuing
Medical management:
- Pharmacologic therapy
- Respiratory therapy
- Skeletal fracture reduction and traction
- Surgical management