Question

CASE STUDY #1: Jason Hendrix is a 21-year-old senior at the University of Delaware, majoring in economics. While on spring break in Florida, Jason was involved in a one-vehicle motorcycle accident. In the accident, Jason was thrown from his bike to the pavement, landing on his back. A police officer witnessed the accident and immediately called for medical assistance. Emergency personnel arrived within minutes, and upon recognizing the seriousness of Jason's back injury, immobilized his neck and secured him to a rigid board prior to transporting him to the emergency room of the nearest hospital. When he arrived at the hospital, Jason was conscious and complained of pain in his lower back. Upon examination by you, Jason was found to have numerous abrasions and contusions, and loss of both sensation and motor control of his legs. After he was stabilized, a complete neurological exam was performed to assess and localize Jason's injury. The neurological exam revealed the following: Jason demonstrated normal or near normal strength in flexing and extending his elbows, extending his wrists, and when flexing his middle finger and abducting his little finger on both hands. However, he exhibited no movement when medical personnel tested his ability to flex his hips, extend his knees, and dorsiflex his ankles. Stretch reflexes involving the biceps and triceps muscles were found to be normal, while those involving the patella and ankle were absent. In addition, Jason was found to have normal sensitivity to pin prick and light touch in areas of his body above the level of his inguinal (groin) region, but not below that region of the body.

Answer 1

2 . A Neurologist

3 . The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, which extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. It encloses the central canal of the spinal cord, which contains cerebrospinal fluid.

4. Lumbar area

5 . quadriplegia, or tetraplegia, which affects both of your arms and both of your legs

Persons with neurologically complete tetraplegia are at high risk for secondary medical complications, including pneumonia, pressure ulcers and deep vein thrombosis. Pressure ulcers are the most frequently observed complications, beginning at 15% during the first year post-injury and steadily increasing thereafter.

Recovery of function depends upon the severity of the initial injury. Unfortunately, those who sustain a complete SCI are unlikely to regain function below the level of injury. However, if there is some degree of improvement, it usually evidences itself within the first few days after the accident.

Incomplete injuries usually show some degree of improvement over time, but this varies with the type of injury. Although full recovery may be unlikely in most cases, some patients may be able to improve at least enough to ambulate and to control bowel and bladder function.

Once a patient is stabilized, care and treatment focuses on supportive care and rehabilitation. Family members, nurses or specially trained aides all may provide supportive care. This care might include helping the patient bathe, dress, change positions to prevent bedsores and other assistance.

Rehabilitation often includes physical therapy, occupational therapy and counseling for emotional support. The services may initially be provided while the patient is hospitalized. Following hospitalization, some patients are admitted to a rehabilitation facility. Other patients can continue rehab on an outpatient basis and/or at home.