Spinal cord injury (SCI) is usually a result of a trauma that leads to permanent loss of motor and sensory function. The most common cause of spinal cord injury is motor vehicle accidents. The degree of disability experienced by a patient with an SCI is determined by the level, severity, and mechanism of injury. The higher the level of the spinal injury, the more complex the disability. This course will attempt to review the pathophysiology of spinal cord injuries and the appropriate interventions to manage such patients.
Learning Objectives Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries:
- Describe what happens when a person experiences a spinal cord injury.
- Understand the common terms associated with spinal cord injuries.
- Describe the difference between complete and incomplete spinal cord injury.
- Describe the differences in functional disabilities as it relates to the level of injury in the spinal cord.
- Understand the usual effects of spinal cord injury on the patient’s primary vital functions including heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure.
- Describe how spinal cord injury conditions are commonly treated.
- Recognize that patients who have spinal cord injuries may become dependent on others for their care