NCS Spinal Cord Injury 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the difference between complete and incomplete spinal cord injury?
- Complete means total loss of function below the injury; incomplete means some function is preserved (Correct answer)
- They are the same
- Complete always means paralysis of all four limbs
- Incomplete is always more severe
Correct answer: Complete means total loss of function below the injury; incomplete means some function is preserved
Complete injuries have no motor or sensory function below the level; incomplete injuries retain some function.
Question 2: What is spinal shock?
- Temporary loss of all spinal cord function below the injury level immediately after trauma (Correct answer)
- Emotional shock from the injury
- A type of treatment
- Electric shock to the spine
Correct answer: Temporary loss of all spinal cord function below the injury level immediately after trauma
Spinal shock is a transient loss of all neurological function below the injury that can last days to weeks.
Question 3: What is autonomic dysreflexia?
- A life-threatening condition in SCI above T6 where noxious stimuli cause dangerous hypertension (Correct answer)
- Low blood pressure after SCI
- A psychological condition
- A medication side effect
Correct answer: A life-threatening condition in SCI above T6 where noxious stimuli cause dangerous hypertension
Autonomic dysreflexia requires immediate identification and removal of the triggering stimulus (often bladder distension or bowel impaction).
Question 4: What is neurogenic bladder?
- Bladder dysfunction resulting from damage to the nervous system controlling urination (Correct answer)
- A kidney infection
- A type of catheter
- A medication side effect
Correct answer: Bladder dysfunction resulting from damage to the nervous system controlling urination
SCI disrupts the neural pathways controlling bladder function, requiring management strategies like intermittent catheterization.
Question 5: What are the levels of SCI and their functional implications?
- Cervical injuries affect arms and legs (tetraplegia); thoracic/lumbar injuries affect legs (paraplegia) (Correct answer)
- All injuries are the same
- Only cervical injuries cause paralysis
- Lumbar injuries affect arms
Correct answer: Cervical injuries affect arms and legs (tetraplegia); thoracic/lumbar injuries affect legs (paraplegia)
The level of injury determines which body functions are affected below that point.
Question 6: What is the ASIA Impairment Scale?
- A classification system for SCI severity from A (complete) to E (normal function) (Correct answer)
- An Asian medical organization
- A type of brain scan
- A medication dosing scale
Correct answer: A classification system for SCI severity from A (complete) to E (normal function)
ASIA grades SCI from A (complete, no motor/sensory function) through B-D (varying degrees of incomplete) to E (normal).
NCS Spinal Cord Injury 1
What is the difference between complete and incomplete spinal cord injury?