CAIDO ATRAS: COMO DIAGNOSTICAR Y QUE HACER CON LAS PARAPARESIA/PARAPLEGIA

Armed with the lesion’s location, and patient signalment, specific syndromes will be explored and their method of diagnosis elucidated. Although MRI and CT are helpful, you will learn that not all cases require their use. Discospondylitis, lumbosacral stenosis, FCE and intervertebral disc disease will be discussed. The drug Polyethylene glycol (PEG) will be covered as well as the use of laser in the treatment of paralysis.

Paraparesis (weakness in the rear limbs) and paraplegia (paralysis of the rear limbs) unaccompanied by signs of additional CNS disturbance suggests that the disease is located caudal to T2. If the rear limb reflexes are intact, the lesion is between T2 and L3. If the rear leg reflexes are diminished to absent, the lesion is between L4 and S2. This can be refined further in that lesions between L4 and L5 result in loss of femoral nerve function, manifested as a decrease in the patellar tendon reflex and inability to support weight in the rear legs. Lesions between L6 and S2 result in sciatic nerve dysfunction, reducing rear leg withdrawal, cranial tibialis muscle, gastrocnemius muscle and sciatic nerve reflexes. […]