Condition Lookup

Complete spinal cord injury (paralysis)

Symptoms:
complete loss of sensation below the level of injury; complete loss of motor function below the level of injury; paralysis; loss of reflexes; inability to breathe without mechanical ventilation (if injury is high on the spine)

Root Cause:
Complete severing or damage of the spinal cord leading to the loss of communication between the brain and body below the injury site.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis involves a detailed physical examination, medical history, imaging tests (CT scan, MRI), and neurological assessments to determine the level and extent of injury.

Treatment:
Treatment typically involves stabilizing the spine, controlling swelling, pain management, and addressing respiratory issues. Surgery may be needed to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or to stabilize the spine. Long-term treatment involves rehabilitation and physical therapy.

Medications:
Medications include corticosteroids (e.g., methylprednisolone ) to reduce inflammation and swelling, pain relievers (opioids and non-opioids), and antispasmodics (e.g., baclofen , tizanidine ) to control muscle spasticity. These medications are classified as anti-inflammatory, analgesics, and muscle relaxants.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Approximately 12,000 to 15,000 new cases per year in the United States; the global incidence is around 250,000 to 500,000 people living with spinal cord injury.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
High-risk activities (e.g., sports, motor vehicle accidents), falls, violence (e.g., gunshots), and conditions like osteoarthritis or osteoporosis that affect spinal integrity.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis varies based on injury level and severity. Complete paralysis typically results in permanent disability with no recovery of motor or sensory function below the injury site. However, there may be potential for some recovery in the first months.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Complications can include pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, blood clots, chronic pain, spasticity, and autonomic dysreflexia (a sudden increase in blood pressure).

Incomplete spinal cord injury

Specialty: Trauma and Injuries

Category: Spinal and Back Injuries

Sub-category: Spinal Cord Injuries

Symptoms:
partial loss of motor function; partial loss of sensation; spasticity or muscle weakness; pain; numbness or tingling sensations

Root Cause:
Damage to the spinal cord where some nerve signals can still pass through, allowing for partial motor or sensory function below the level of injury.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is done through a physical exam, imaging (MRI, CT), and neurological tests to determine the extent and location of the injury and the level of function retained.

Treatment:
Initial treatment focuses on stabilizing the spine, controlling swelling, and preventing further injury. Rehabilitation includes physical therapy and occupational therapy to regain as much function as possible.

Medications:
Medications may include corticosteroids (e.g., methylprednisolone ), pain relievers (opioids, NSAIDs), muscle relaxants (e.g., baclofen , dantrolene ), and antispasmodics to control muscle stiffness. These are classified as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and muscle relaxant medications.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Around 250,000 to 500,000 people worldwide live with spinal cord injuries, with incomplete injuries making up about 60-70% of cases.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Similar to complete spinal cord injury

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
The prognosis depends on the level of injury and how much function is retained. Many people can regain some motor or sensory functions, and recovery can continue for several months or years after the injury.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Complications include chronic pain, spasticity, pressure ulcers, urinary and bowel problems, respiratory issues, and depression.

Neurogenic shock

Specialty: Trauma and Injuries

Category: Spinal and Back Injuries

Sub-category: Spinal Cord Injuries

Symptoms:
hypotension (low blood pressure); bradycardia (slow heart rate); warm, dry skin; dizziness; fainting; weakness or paralysis below the level of injury

Root Cause:
Neurogenic shock is caused by the disruption of autonomic nervous system control after a spinal cord injury, leading to the loss of sympathetic tone, vasodilation, and hypotension.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is clinical, with identification of symptoms like hypotension, bradycardia, and absence of sweating in areas below the injury. Blood pressure and heart rate monitoring are essential for diagnosis.

Treatment:
Treatment focuses on stabilizing blood pressure and heart rate. This may include intravenous fluids, vasopressor medications (e.g., norepinephrine), and atropine to raise blood pressure and heart rate.

Medications:
Vasopressors such as norepinephrine and phenylephrine are used to increase vascular tone and blood pressure. Atropine is used to treat bradycardia. These medications are classified as adrenergic agonists and anticholinergics.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Neurogenic shock occurs in about 30% of spinal cord injury cases, particularly those involving injuries at or above the T6 level of the spine.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Risk factors include spinal cord injury, particularly at high levels (e.g., cervical or upper thoracic injuries) where autonomic regulation is disrupted.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
If treated promptly, the prognosis is generally favorable, with recovery of normal blood pressure and heart rate. However, if left untreated, neurogenic shock can be life-threatening.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Complications include organ failure, arrhythmias, and in severe cases, death due to inadequate circulation or respiratory failure.

Cervical spine fractures

Specialty: Trauma and Injuries

Category: Spinal and Back Injuries

Sub-category: Spinal Fractures

Symptoms:
neck pain; stiffness; reduced range of motion; tingling or numbness in arms; weakness; difficulty breathing; visible deformity or swelling in the neck

Root Cause:
A break or crack in one of the cervical vertebrae due to trauma (e.g., falls, car accidents, or sports injuries).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, X-rays, CT scans, MRI to assess the location and severity of the fracture.

Treatment:
Treatment depends on the severity and may include immobilization with cervical collars, halo devices, traction, or surgical stabilization using plates, screws, or spinal fusion.

Medications:
Pain management with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen , opioids for severe pain (e.g., morphine or oxycodone ), and muscle relaxants like cyclobenzaprine to alleviate spasms. Steroids (e.g., methylprednisolone ) may be prescribed to reduce spinal cord inflammation in certain cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Cervical fractures account for approximately 20% of spinal fractures and are more common in males due to high-risk activities.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
High-impact trauma, osteoporosis, advanced age, contact sports, motor vehicle accidents, and falls from height.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With proper treatment, many fractures heal without complications. However, severe fractures or spinal cord involvement may lead to permanent disability or paralysis.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Spinal cord injury, paralysis (quadriplegia), chronic pain, instability, nerve damage, or post-traumatic arthritis.

Thoracic spine fractures

Specialty: Trauma and Injuries

Category: Spinal and Back Injuries

Sub-category: Spinal Fractures

Symptoms:
mid-back pain; stiffness; difficulty breathing; numbness or tingling in the legs; weakness in the lower extremities; possible paralysis below the chest area

Root Cause:
A fracture in the thoracic vertebrae caused by trauma, osteoporosis, or metastatic bone disease.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, neurological assessment, X-rays, CT scans, and MRI to evaluate fracture severity and spinal cord involvement.

Treatment:
Mild fractures may require bracing and pain management, while severe cases may need spinal fusion or vertebroplasty. Rehabilitation is often necessary.

Medications:
NSAIDs for pain management (e.g., ibuprofen , naproxen ), opioids for severe pain (e.g., tramadol , morphine ), and calcium/vitamin D supplements for underlying osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate ) may be prescribed for bone strengthening.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Thoracic fractures make up about 35% of all spinal fractures and are common in older adults and trauma patients.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
High-impact injuries (e.g., car accidents, falls), osteoporosis, metastatic cancers, and high-energy sports injuries.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis varies with the severity of the fracture. Simple fractures heal well with treatment, but severe injuries with spinal cord involvement may lead to paralysis or chronic pain.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Spinal cord damage, paralysis (paraplegia), chronic pain, kyphosis (hunchback), and long-term disability.

Lumbar spine fractures

Specialty: Trauma and Injuries

Category: Spinal and Back Injuries

Sub-category: Spinal Fractures

Symptoms:
lower back pain; stiffness; numbness or tingling in the legs; weakness in the lower limbs; loss of bowel or bladder control in severe cases; limited mobility

Root Cause:
A fracture in the lumbar vertebrae caused by trauma, compression (e.g., in osteoporosis), or metastatic bone disease.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, neurological evaluation, X-rays, CT scans, and MRI to assess fracture severity and nerve involvement.

Treatment:
Conservative treatments include bracing and physical therapy for minor fractures. Severe cases may require kyphoplasty, spinal fusion, or decompression surgery.

Medications:
NSAIDs for pain relief (e.g., ibuprofen , diclofenac ), opioids for severe pain (e.g., hydrocodone , morphine ), and bone-modifying agents like teriparatide or bisphosphonates for osteoporosis-related fractures.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Lumbar fractures are the most common spinal fractures, especially in older adults with osteoporosis or those experiencing high-energy trauma.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Osteoporosis, trauma from falls or car accidents, repetitive stress, metastatic cancer, and physical overexertion.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Most fractures heal well with conservative treatment, but severe injuries may result in chronic pain or permanent disability.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Nerve root compression, chronic pain, deformity, instability, or spinal stenosis.

Herniated intervertebral disc

Specialty: Trauma and Injuries

Category: Spinal and Back Injuries

Sub-category: Disc Disorders

Symptoms:
localized back pain; radiating pain (sciatica) down the legs; numbness or tingling in extremities; muscle weakness; difficulty with movement or coordination

Root Cause:
A tear in the outer layer of the intervertebral disc allows the inner gel-like material to protrude, compressing nearby nerves or the spinal cord.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed with clinical examination and imaging (MRI or CT).

Treatment:
Treated with physical therapy, pain management, and, in severe cases, surgical intervention like discectomy.

Medications:
NSAIDs for pain and inflammation, muscle relaxants (e.g., cyclobenzaprine ), and corticosteroid injections to reduce nerve irritation.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 1-2% of the population annually, most common in adults aged 30-50.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Aging, heavy lifting, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Most cases resolve with conservative treatment within 6-8 weeks; surgery has a high success rate for relieving symptoms in severe cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic pain, permanent nerve damage, loss of bladder or bowel control (cauda equina syndrome), and disability if left untreated.