Question

Remember the following regarding the signs and symptoms of spinal injury: A. Paralysis of the extremities is a reliable sign of spine injury. B. Have the patient move to try to elicit a pain response. C. Check for loss of sensation above the suspected level of injury. D. The patient may complain of pain to the legs if the thoracic spine is injured.

1) Paralysis of the extremities is a reliable sign of spine injury.
2) Have the patient move to try to elicit a pain response.
3) Check for loss of sensation above the suspected level of injury.
4) The patient may complain of pain to the legs if the thoracic spine is injured.

Answer 1

Paralysis of the extremities is not always a reliable sign of spinal injury. It is important to check for loss of sensation above the suspected level of injury. Moving the patient to elicit a pain response should be avoided.

Step-by-step explanation:

Paralysis of the extremities is not always a reliable sign of spinal injury. The location and severity of the injury can determine if paralysis occurs and which parts of the body are affected. It is important to note that paralysis generally affects all areas of the body below the level of the injury, meaning that if the injury is in the thoracic spine, the patient may experience paralysis in the legs.

Instead of having the patient move to try to elicit a pain response, it is recommended to avoid moving the patient as much as possible to prevent further damage to the spinal cord.

Checking for loss of sensation above the suspected level of injury is an important step in assessing for spinal injury. Loss of sensation can indicate that there is damage to the spinal cord.