SPINAL CORD INJURY FULL SOLUTION 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ CT scan. Answer: ___ is now the gold standard in diagnosing
stability of the injury, location and degree of injury, and degree of
spinal canal compromise.
◉ MRI. Answer: _____ is used to assess for soft tissue and neurologic
changes and when there is unexplained neurologic deficit or
worsening of neurologic status.
◉ Cervical x-rays. Answer: ____ are obtained when CT scanning is not
readily available; however, visualizing C7 and T1 on a cervical x-ray
is often difficult, and the ability to fully evaluate cervical spine injury
is compromised.
◉ CT angiogram. Answer: ___ is used to rule out vertebral artery
damage in patients with cervical injuries who demonstrate altered
mental status.
◉ diagnose deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Answer: Duplex Doppler
ultrasound, impedance plethysmography, venous occlusion
plethysmography, venography, and clinical examination are used to
_____, a common complication of SCI.
,◉ •Ensure patent airway.
•Stabilize cervical spine.
•Administer oxygen via nasal cannula or non-rebreather mask.
•Establish IV access with two large-bore catheters to infuse normal
saline or lactated Ringer's solution as appropriate.
•Assess for other injuries.
•Control external bleeding.
•Obtain cervical spine x-rays, CT scan, or MRI.
•Prepare for stabilization with cranial tongs and traction.. Answer:
Initial Injury nursing interventions:
◉ •Monitor vital signs, level of consciousness, oxygen saturation,
cardiac rhythm, urine output.
•Keep warm.
•Monitor for urinary retention, hypertension.
•Anticipate need for intubation if gag reflex absent.
•Logroll. Answer: Ongoing nursing interventions:
◉ neuromuscular assessment. Answer: Assessment involves testing
muscle groups rather than individual muscles. Test muscle groups
with and against gravity, alone and against resistance, and on both
sides of the body. Note spontaneous movement. Ask the patient to
,move legs and then hands, spread fingers, extend wrists, and shrug
shoulders.
A sensory examination including touch and pain as tested by
pinprick should be carried out, starting at the toes and working
upward toward the head. If time and conditions permit, also assess
position sense and vibration.
The only clue to internal trauma with hemorrhage may be a rapidly
elevated BP and increasing pulse. Examine the urine for hematuria,
which is also indicative of internal injuries.
◉ ¡To stabilize and decompress injured spinal segment
¡Traction or realignment
¡Eliminate damaging motion.
¡Prevent secondary damage.. Answer: Nonoperative Stabilization:
◉ Evidence of cord compression
Progressive neurologic deficit
Compound fracture
Bony fragments
Penetrating wounds. Answer: Surgery indications:
, ◉ Laminectomy. Answer: the surgical removal of a lamina, or
posterior portion, of a vertebra to decompress pressure on the
spinal cord
◉ Vasopressor (dopamine). Answer: Maintain mean arterial
pressure > 90 mm Hg
◉ *General*
•Poikilothermism (unable to regulate body heat)
*Integumentary*
•Warm, dry skin below level of injury (neurogenic shock)
*Respiratory*
•Injury at C1-3: apnea, inability to cough
•Injury at C4: poor cough, diaphragmatic breathing, hypoventilation
•Injury at C5-T6: decreased respiratory reserve
*Cardiovascular*
•Injury above T5: bradycardia, hypotension, postural hypotension,
absence of vasomotor tone
*Gastrointestinal*
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ CT scan. Answer: ___ is now the gold standard in diagnosing
stability of the injury, location and degree of injury, and degree of
spinal canal compromise.
◉ MRI. Answer: _____ is used to assess for soft tissue and neurologic
changes and when there is unexplained neurologic deficit or
worsening of neurologic status.
◉ Cervical x-rays. Answer: ____ are obtained when CT scanning is not
readily available; however, visualizing C7 and T1 on a cervical x-ray
is often difficult, and the ability to fully evaluate cervical spine injury
is compromised.
◉ CT angiogram. Answer: ___ is used to rule out vertebral artery
damage in patients with cervical injuries who demonstrate altered
mental status.
◉ diagnose deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Answer: Duplex Doppler
ultrasound, impedance plethysmography, venous occlusion
plethysmography, venography, and clinical examination are used to
_____, a common complication of SCI.
,◉ •Ensure patent airway.
•Stabilize cervical spine.
•Administer oxygen via nasal cannula or non-rebreather mask.
•Establish IV access with two large-bore catheters to infuse normal
saline or lactated Ringer's solution as appropriate.
•Assess for other injuries.
•Control external bleeding.
•Obtain cervical spine x-rays, CT scan, or MRI.
•Prepare for stabilization with cranial tongs and traction.. Answer:
Initial Injury nursing interventions:
◉ •Monitor vital signs, level of consciousness, oxygen saturation,
cardiac rhythm, urine output.
•Keep warm.
•Monitor for urinary retention, hypertension.
•Anticipate need for intubation if gag reflex absent.
•Logroll. Answer: Ongoing nursing interventions:
◉ neuromuscular assessment. Answer: Assessment involves testing
muscle groups rather than individual muscles. Test muscle groups
with and against gravity, alone and against resistance, and on both
sides of the body. Note spontaneous movement. Ask the patient to
,move legs and then hands, spread fingers, extend wrists, and shrug
shoulders.
A sensory examination including touch and pain as tested by
pinprick should be carried out, starting at the toes and working
upward toward the head. If time and conditions permit, also assess
position sense and vibration.
The only clue to internal trauma with hemorrhage may be a rapidly
elevated BP and increasing pulse. Examine the urine for hematuria,
which is also indicative of internal injuries.
◉ ¡To stabilize and decompress injured spinal segment
¡Traction or realignment
¡Eliminate damaging motion.
¡Prevent secondary damage.. Answer: Nonoperative Stabilization:
◉ Evidence of cord compression
Progressive neurologic deficit
Compound fracture
Bony fragments
Penetrating wounds. Answer: Surgery indications:
, ◉ Laminectomy. Answer: the surgical removal of a lamina, or
posterior portion, of a vertebra to decompress pressure on the
spinal cord
◉ Vasopressor (dopamine). Answer: Maintain mean arterial
pressure > 90 mm Hg
◉ *General*
•Poikilothermism (unable to regulate body heat)
*Integumentary*
•Warm, dry skin below level of injury (neurogenic shock)
*Respiratory*
•Injury at C1-3: apnea, inability to cough
•Injury at C4: poor cough, diaphragmatic breathing, hypoventilation
•Injury at C5-T6: decreased respiratory reserve
*Cardiovascular*
•Injury above T5: bradycardia, hypotension, postural hypotension,
absence of vasomotor tone
*Gastrointestinal*
