SPINAL CORD INJURY EXAM SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Neurogenic shock. Answer: ____, in contrast to spinal shock, is due
to the loss of vasomotor tone caused by injury and is characterized
by *hypotension and bradycardia*
*from extreme vasodilation!!*
effects are generally associated with a cervical or high thoracic
injury (*T6 or higher*)
◉ Hypotension
Bradycardia
Peripheral vasodilation
Venous pooling
↓Cardiac output
Loss of temperature regulation
Thrombophlebitis (clots). Answer: S/S of neurogenic shock:
◉ vasopressors
atropine. Answer: neurogenic shock treatment:
,◉ orthostatic hypotension. Answer: Neurogenic shock puts patients
at risk for ____.
Transfer to wheelchair in stages:
-Raise the HOB
-Transfer to wheelchair with head of chair reclined
-Be ready to lock and lean chair
-Do NOT attempt to return client to bed
◉ (1) mechanism of injury
(2) level of injury
(3) degree of injury. Answer: Spinal cord injuries are classified by
the:
◉ Flexion
Hyperextension
Flexion-rotation
Extension-rotation
Compression. Answer: Major mechanisms of injury are:
,◉ flexion-rotation. Answer: The ___ injury is the most unstable of all
injuries because the ligamentous structures that stabilize the spine
are torn. This injury is most often implicated in severe neurologic
deficits.
◉ Skeletal level. Answer: __ of injury is the vertebral level where
there is the most damage to vertebral bones and ligaments.
◉ Neurologic level. Answer: __ is the lowest segment of the spinal
cord with normal sensory and motor function on both sides of the
body. The level of injury may be cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacral.
◉ Cervical, lumbar. Answer: ___ injuries are most common because
these levels are associated with the greatest flexibility and
movement.
◉ tetraplegia (formerly quadriplegia). Answer: If the cervical cord is
involved, paralysis of all four extremities occurs, resulting in ____.
◉ cervical. Answer: When the damage is low in the ____ cord, the
arms are rarely completely paralyzed.
◉ paraplegia. Answer: If the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral spinal cord is
damaged, the result is _____ (paralysis and loss of sensation in the
legs).
, ◉ Flexion. Answer: _____ injury of the cervical spine ruptures the
*posterior ligaments*.
(head thrown forward)
◉ Hyperextension. Answer: ___ injury of the cervical spine ruptures
the *anterior ligaments*.
(head back)
◉ Compression. Answer: ____ fractures crush the vertebrae and force
bony fragments into the spinal canal.
◉ Flexion-rotation injury. Answer: ______ injury of the cervical spine
often results in tearing of ligamentous structures that normally
stabilize the spine.
◉ complete. Answer: _____ cord involvement results in total loss of
sensory and motor function below the level of the injury.
◉ Incomplete. Answer: _____ cord involvement results in a mixed loss
of voluntary motor activity and sensation and leaves some tracts
intact.
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Neurogenic shock. Answer: ____, in contrast to spinal shock, is due
to the loss of vasomotor tone caused by injury and is characterized
by *hypotension and bradycardia*
*from extreme vasodilation!!*
effects are generally associated with a cervical or high thoracic
injury (*T6 or higher*)
◉ Hypotension
Bradycardia
Peripheral vasodilation
Venous pooling
↓Cardiac output
Loss of temperature regulation
Thrombophlebitis (clots). Answer: S/S of neurogenic shock:
◉ vasopressors
atropine. Answer: neurogenic shock treatment:
,◉ orthostatic hypotension. Answer: Neurogenic shock puts patients
at risk for ____.
Transfer to wheelchair in stages:
-Raise the HOB
-Transfer to wheelchair with head of chair reclined
-Be ready to lock and lean chair
-Do NOT attempt to return client to bed
◉ (1) mechanism of injury
(2) level of injury
(3) degree of injury. Answer: Spinal cord injuries are classified by
the:
◉ Flexion
Hyperextension
Flexion-rotation
Extension-rotation
Compression. Answer: Major mechanisms of injury are:
,◉ flexion-rotation. Answer: The ___ injury is the most unstable of all
injuries because the ligamentous structures that stabilize the spine
are torn. This injury is most often implicated in severe neurologic
deficits.
◉ Skeletal level. Answer: __ of injury is the vertebral level where
there is the most damage to vertebral bones and ligaments.
◉ Neurologic level. Answer: __ is the lowest segment of the spinal
cord with normal sensory and motor function on both sides of the
body. The level of injury may be cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacral.
◉ Cervical, lumbar. Answer: ___ injuries are most common because
these levels are associated with the greatest flexibility and
movement.
◉ tetraplegia (formerly quadriplegia). Answer: If the cervical cord is
involved, paralysis of all four extremities occurs, resulting in ____.
◉ cervical. Answer: When the damage is low in the ____ cord, the
arms are rarely completely paralyzed.
◉ paraplegia. Answer: If the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral spinal cord is
damaged, the result is _____ (paralysis and loss of sensation in the
legs).
, ◉ Flexion. Answer: _____ injury of the cervical spine ruptures the
*posterior ligaments*.
(head thrown forward)
◉ Hyperextension. Answer: ___ injury of the cervical spine ruptures
the *anterior ligaments*.
(head back)
◉ Compression. Answer: ____ fractures crush the vertebrae and force
bony fragments into the spinal canal.
◉ Flexion-rotation injury. Answer: ______ injury of the cervical spine
often results in tearing of ligamentous structures that normally
stabilize the spine.
◉ complete. Answer: _____ cord involvement results in total loss of
sensory and motor function below the level of the injury.
◉ Incomplete. Answer: _____ cord involvement results in a mixed loss
of voluntary motor activity and sensation and leaves some tracts
intact.
