INTRODUCTION

Spinal cord compression is caused by any condition that puts pressure on the

spinal cord. Spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that carries messages back and forth

from the brain to the muscles and other soft tissues. As the spinal cord travels down the

back, it is protected by a stack of backbones called vertebrae. They also hold the body

upright. The nerves of spinal cord run through the openings between the vertebrae and

out to the muscles. Spinal cord compression can occur anywhere from the neck

(cervical spine) down to the lower back (lumbar spine). Symptoms include numbness,

pain, and weakness. Depending on the cause of the compression, symptoms may

develop suddenly or gradually, and they may require anything from supportive care to

emergency surgery.

One of the most common causes of spinal cord compression is the gradual wear

and tear on the bones of the spine, known as osteoarthritis. People who develop spinal

cord compression from this are usually older than 50. Other conditions that may cause

spinal cord compression can develop more quickly, even very suddenly, and can occur

at any age are abnormal spine alignment (scoliosis), injury to the spine, spinal tumor,

certain bone diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and infection (Johns Hopkins University,

2016).

STATISTICS

As many as 500,000 people suffer a spinal cord injury each year. People with

spinal cord injuries are 2 to 5 times more likely to die prematurely, with worse survival

rates in low- and middle-income countries. The new WHO report, "International
perspectives on spinal cord injury", summarizes the best available evidence on the

causes, prevention, care and lived experience of people with spinal cord injury.

Males are most at risk of spinal cord injury between the ages of 20-29 years and

70 years and older, while females are most at risk between the ages of 15-19 years and

60 years and older. Studies report male to female ratios of at least 2:1 among adults.

Up to 90% of spinal cord injury cases are due to traumatic causes such as road

traffic crashes, falls and violence. Variations exist across regions. For example, road

traffic accidents are the main contributor to spinal cord injury in the African Region

(nearly 70% of cases) and the Western Pacific Region (55% of cases) and falls the

leading cause in the South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean Regions (40% of

cases). Non-traumatic spinal cord injury results from conditions such as tumours, spina

bifida, and tuberculosis. A third of non-traumatic spinal cord injury is linked to

tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa.

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

. Male

25 years old

Osteomyelitis

Infection in the spaces

around the thecal sac

Pressure at the thecal

sac

Injury

White matter (myelinated Grey matter (cell

tracts) bodies) in the cord

cord or nerve roots can no longer

function correctly

SPINAL CORD COMPRESSION

T11-T12

Indicate here the signs and symptoms

manifested by your patient nung
nagpunta ng hospital