ABSTRACT
The incidence of spinal cord injury (SCI) is approximately 12,500 new cases annually in the United States. The average age of injury is steadily rising in accordance with an aging general population. The proportion of SCI in the elderly is increasing, with low-velocity injuries, such as falls, a leading cause. Consequently, preventative measures should be incorporated at assisted living centers wherever possible in an attempt to reduce these injuries. Traumatic SCI involves a transfer of kinetic injury to the spinal cord parenchyma, resulting in disruption of ascending and descending axonal tracts, which carry sensory and motor information, respectively. Also occurring is the initial destruction of supporting cellular architecture, including Schwann cells, neurons, and astrocytes. The neurologic examination on a patient with a suspected spinal injury is well described, and an emphasis is placed on understanding the level of injury and the presence of radiculopathy or myelopathy, which is suggestive of nerve root or spinal cord compression, respectively.
