Acute Medicine | Weakness and paralysis 06 knowledge C

Spinal Cord Compression
Session Overview
Description
This session covers the clinical presentation, investigation and management of spinal cord compression.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• List important symptoms suggestive of spinal cord compression
• Recognise the clinical signs associated with spinal cord compression
• Identify when to refer patients for urgent investigations
• Describe appropriate treatment and recognise the need for specialist referral of patients diagnosed with spinal cord compression

Reduced mobility is a common clinical presentation in elderly patients, and can be the result of a wide range of diseases – underlying infection, metabolic abnormalities, arthritis or neurological problems.

However, patients of any age presenting with reduced mobility (‘off legs’) should be thoroughly assessed as spinal cord compression is an important diagnosis not to miss.

In patients with a history of malignancy or weight loss, spinal cord compression should be among the differential diagnoses if they present with mobility problems.

This session gives an overview of the clinical presentation, investigation, and management of spinal cord compression.