Chapter 14, Problem 4CCS

Summary Introduction

Case summary:

A 10-year-old patient, Jimmy Chin, is not able to move his trunk or his head as he is immobilized on a rigid stretcher. He had met with an accident and suffered severe bruises on the head and upper back. Also, lacerations were found on the scalp and the back. His body’s temperature was normal, blood pressure was low, and the lower limbs were paralyzed.

  

Characters in the case:

Jimmy Chin.

Adequate information:

Two days post-surgery, the patient’s MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) showed no residual injury in the brain. However, the spinal cord damage and swelling were prominent. Also, no reflex activity below the spinal cord’s injury level was shown in the report.

To determine:

The reason due to which an injured child is unable to show reflex activity in the lower body and abdomen, below the T4 (thoracic vertebrae 4) of spinal cord injury.