Case Study Spinal Cord Injury
Back Breaking
The spinal cord is one of the most important parts of the human body. The spinal cord is filled with nerves. These nerves help communicates messages from our brain to our body and vice versa. Injuries to the spinal cord often come with very severe symptoms. In Allen’s case a 30 feet fall is sure to bring many consequence’s.
As mention Allen’s heart rate and blood pressure fall. Which might strike as odd. This is not the response that’s expected. This is most likely due to the type of injury. Spinal cord injuries can have some unique effects. Such conditions include neurogenic shock. Patients with spinal cord injuries can get this type of shock (Rob Orman). This type of shock comes with the symptom’s “bradycardia and hypotension” (Orman). This two symptoms are basically slow heart rate and low blood pressure. This is most likely the reason Allen heart rate and blood pressure fall after the injury.
There were also some issues With Allen’s breathing. As mention it was rapid and shallow. The description mentions the x-rays showed decrease lung expansion. This probably means she’s not receiving enough oxygen. Thus her breathing becomes rapid and shallow. It’s very possible that her spinal injury caused some damages to …show more content…
the muscles responsible for breathing (David J. Berlowitz, Brooke Wadsworth, Jack Ross). There might be an issue with then nerves that communicate to such muscles. Thus this could cause “muscle weakness”(David).
Allen suffered some sensation lost.
He only lost sensation in some parts. This could be due to the vertebrae that was fracture. That vertebrae must of been responsible for the sensation of does parts. For example the “higher injuries affect arms and trunk”(Tanya Lewis). This shows us it was one of the higher vertebrae that was damaged. It was probably a cervical vertebrae that was damaged. This is because it’s the highest type of vertebrae. The symptom’s Allen suffers, lost of sensation in arm and trunk can lead us to this assumption. I would assume it would be between c4-c7. This is because injuries of c4+ have a higher chance of neurogenic shock (Rob Orman). Also some muscle test could be done to pin point which excact vertebrae was
damaged.
The normal pH blood level is between 7.35-7.45 ( Blood pH). Allens pH was level was 7.25. His pH blood level was below the normal range. This means His blood became more acidic. As mention earlier his lungs x- rays whoed decrease lung expansion. This might be causing Allen to have more Co2 in her body. More Co2 on your body makes your Ph levels drop (Robin Wasserman). Her ph issue might be caused by her lungs issue.
Respiration is a complex process which involves many muscles and nerves. The major Muscle involve in respiration is the diaphragm which involves the phrenic nerves (Muscles of Respiration). This major muscle and never work together along many others to keep the process up. Damage to the phrenic could cause major breathing issues.
The spinal cord is one of the most important parts of the human body. The spinal cord is filled with nerves. These nerves help communicates messages from our brain to our body and vice versa. Injuries to the spinal cord often come with very severe symptoms. In Allen’s case a 30 feet fall is sure to bring many consequence’s.
As mention Allen’s heart rate and blood pressure fall. Which might strike as odd. This is not the response that’s expected. This is most likely due to the type of injury. Spinal cord injuries can have some unique effects. Such conditions include neurogenic shock. Patients with spinal cord injuries can get this type of shock (Rob Orman). This type of shock comes with the symptom’s “bradycardia and hypotension” (Orman). This two symptoms are basically slow heart rate and low blood pressure. This is most likely the reason Allen heart rate and blood pressure fall after the injury.
There were also some issues With Allen’s breathing. As mention it was rapid and shallow. The description mentions the x-rays showed decrease lung expansion. This probably means she’s not receiving enough oxygen. Thus her breathing becomes rapid and shallow. It’s very possible that her spinal injury caused some damages to …show more content…
the muscles responsible for breathing (David J. Berlowitz, Brooke Wadsworth, Jack Ross). There might be an issue with then nerves that communicate to such muscles. Thus this could cause “muscle weakness”(David).
Allen suffered some sensation lost.
He only lost sensation in some parts. This could be due to the vertebrae that was fracture. That vertebrae must of been responsible for the sensation of does parts. For example the “higher injuries affect arms and trunk”(Tanya Lewis). This shows us it was one of the higher vertebrae that was damaged. It was probably a cervical vertebrae that was damaged. This is because it’s the highest type of vertebrae. The symptom’s Allen suffers, lost of sensation in arm and trunk can lead us to this assumption. I would assume it would be between c4-c7. This is because injuries of c4+ have a higher chance of neurogenic shock (Rob Orman). Also some muscle test could be done to pin point which excact vertebrae was
damaged.
The normal pH blood level is between 7.35-7.45 ( Blood pH). Allens pH was level was 7.25. His pH blood level was below the normal range. This means His blood became more acidic. As mention earlier his lungs x- rays whoed decrease lung expansion. This might be causing Allen to have more Co2 in her body. More Co2 on your body makes your Ph levels drop (Robin Wasserman). Her ph issue might be caused by her lungs issue.
Respiration is a complex process which involves many muscles and nerves. The major Muscle involve in respiration is the diaphragm which involves the phrenic nerves (Muscles of Respiration). This major muscle and never work together along many others to keep the process up. Damage to the phrenic could cause major breathing issues.