Signs of the Spinal Cord Lesion

Signs of the Spinal Cord Lesion

C1-C5:

spastic palsy below the lesion (tetraplegia)

flaccid palsy of muscles of head and neck and diaphragm

sensory loss below the lesion

upper neuron type of bladder dysfunction

C5-T1 (cervical enlargement):

flaccid palsy of hands

spastic palsy of legs

sensory loss below the lesion

upper neuron type of bladder dysfunction

Horner’s syndrome (ptosis, myosis, enophthalmos)

T1-T12:

spastic palsy of legs

sensory loss below the lesion

upper neuron type of bladder dysfunction

trophic changes in lower part of the body and legs

L1-S2 (lumbar enlargement):

flaccid palsy of legs

sensory loss in legs and saddle

(paranesthesia)

upper neuron type of bladder dysfunction

L4-S2 (epiconus):

flaccid palsy of posterior group of muscles of the leg, absent Achilles reflex

sensory loss in shin, foot, buttocks and saddle (paranesthesia)

upper neuron type of bladder dysfunction

S3-Co (conus):

sensory loss in saddle region

lower neuron type of bladder dysfunction

trophic changes in sacral region

L2-S5 (cauda equine):

flaccid palsy in legs

sensory loss in legs, buttocks and saddle

lancinating pain

tension symptoms

lower neuron bladder dysfunction

B. The site of the lesion

Anterior root:

segmental flaccid palsy

Posterior root:

segmental sensory loss

lancinating pain

no reflexes

tension symptoms

Spinal nerve:

segmental flaccid palsy

segmental sensory loss

lancinating pain

tension symptoms