Trauma Spinal Cord Injuries

Which of the following statements are true regarding bladder management of the acute spinal cord injured patient?

Bladder management is dependent upon level of injury, lifestyle, and gender

The sensorimotor exam is performed:

To assess sensory and motor function and strength bilaterally

Which of the following statements is true regarding acute spinal cord injury and deep venous thrombosis?

Patients are at greatest risk the first two weeks post-injury

Unopposed vagal outflow places the acute spinal cord injured patient at greater risk for ulcer formation.

True

Gastrointestinal management of a patient with an acute spinal cord injury should include:

Gastric decompression, gastric prophylaxis, early enteral feedings, and bowel stimulants

The signs and symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia include:

Hypertension, bradycardia, pallor, and flushing

The cardiovascular consequences of neurogenic shock include:

Hypotension, bradycardia, and hypothermia

In acute spinal cord injury, pain is:

Is frequently exacerbated by fear and anxiety

Chronic pain is a significant issue for spinal cord injured patients because:

It diminishes the quality of life

Frequent respiratory assessment is important in acute spinal cord injury because:

Loss of defensive respiratory muscles places them at high risk for respiratory failure

Spinal cord injury is significant in the United States because:

Despite low incidence, it carries a high economic burden

Central cord syndrome is:

Most commonly occurs in older persons with degenerative changes of the cervical spine

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is definitively diagnosed by the presence of bacteriuria in SCI patients.

False

The five major mechanisms of injury are:

Flexion, extension, axial loading, rotation and penetration

Which of the following statements regarding sexual function of the cervical spinal cord injured person is true?

Most males can achieve erection, but will not experience reflexive ejaculation

Musculoskeletal implications of spinal cord injury include:

Spasticity, heterotopic ossification, and contractures

The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is important in acute spinal cord injury because:

The sympathetic branch is disrupted producing neurogenic shock