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Pain referral
Trigger points
Cranial nerve
Spinal nerve
Historical In sports medicine spinal cord trauma is occasionally observed in contact sports.
Not all spinal injuries result in the immediate loss of function. Frequently it takes several hours
for the net effect of trauma to result in loss of function. With acute severe trauma there is usually
an immediate loss of function and depending upon the level of segmental involvement and severity of
trauma death can rapidly ensue. With less severe trauma, especially in the thoracic region, loss of
function may not be noticed for several hours following the injury or lesion. It may also ascend superior
to the segmental level of the lesion.
Lesions superior to C5, if severe, may result in respiratory arrest and death, thus earning
spinal cord fractures above C5 the name of a “hangman’s fracture”. If not fatal, complete lesion above this point results in quadriplegia.
Lesions between C5 & C6 allow limited arm movement but everything beneath that level is affected.
However, lesions between C6 & C7 causes complete paralysis of the legs, wrists & hands while allowing shoulder & elbow movement.
Lesions at the level of the CT junction results in myotic pupil & Horner’s syndrome.
Lesions beneath T11 and T12 affect the legs and can result in bowel & bladder incontinence. A herniated disc in this region will result in these symptoms also. In males, frequently, a penile erection is experienced following trauma to this spinal region. Trauma to the cauda equina will cause hyporeflexia and pain in the lower extremities.
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Spinal cord trauma