Spinal Shock

Overview

4.8 out of 5 (12 Reviews)

Credits

1.00

Post Assessment Questions

6

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

12 Feb 2024

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

60 Minutes

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Activity Description

Spinal shock is the sudden, temporary loss or impairment of spinal cord function below the level of injury that occurs after an acute spinal cord injury, including the motor, sensory, reflex, and autonomic neural systems. The most common cause of severe spinal cord injury leading to spinal shock is a primary insult by high-impact, direct trauma or fall. However, secondary injury (eg, ischemia or infection) of the spinal cord can also result in injury.  Although the condition may occur as a result of SCI, spinal shock is a physiologic process rather than an anatomic disorder. Spinal shock may last days to weeks, though there is debate on how the resolution of the condition is defined.

The diagnosis of spinal shock is comprised of obtaining relevant history (eg, past medical history, mechanism of injury), if possible, performing a complete physical examination, including evaluation with the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Scale, and initiating spinal imaging studies. As with any trauma patient, evaluation for spinal cord injuries should be performed after primary assessment with the ABCDE (ie, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure) protocol while ensuring spine immobilization during evaluation and transportation to minimize secondary injury. Initial characteristic findings of spinal shock include paralysis and absent reflexes, impaired bowel and bladder control, and absent anal sphincter tone. Management of spinal shock primarily consists of maintaining hemodynamic and respiratory stability to prevent further neurogenic injury and supportive therapy. In some patients, surgical decompression may be considered. Typically, patients with spinal shock have restoration of spinal cord function after a period of recovery; persistent neurological impairment may indicate anatomic spinal cord injury. This activity for healthcare professionals is designed to enhance the learner's competence when managing spinal shock, equipping them with updated knowledge, skills, and strategies for timely identification, effective interventions, and improved interprofessional coordination of care, leading to better patient outcomes and reduced morbidity.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  •  Identify the etiology and clinical features of spinal shock.

  • Evaluate spinal shock using the clinical assessments and diagnostic studies recommended.

  • Compare the appropriate management of spinal shock and neurogenic shock.

  • Determine how interprofessional healthcare teams should communicate and collaborate in the management of spinal shock.

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Physicians and Physician Associates: StatPearls, LLC designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians and PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

American Board of Anesthesiology: This activity contributes to the CME component of the American Board of Anesthesiology’s redesigned Maintenance of Certification in AnesthesiologyTM (MOCA®) program, known as MOCA 2.0®. Please consult the ABA website, www.theABA.org, for a list of all MOCA 2.0 requirements.

American Board of Internal Medicine: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

American Board of Pathology: Successful completion of this Continuing Certification activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 Lifelong Learning (CME) credits in the American Board of Pathology’s Continuing Certification Program.

American Board of Pediatrics: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.

American Board of Surgery: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and Self-Assessment requirement(s) of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada: Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the FDA. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

Reviews

Arthur C. on 1/10/2021

Donald P. on 7/11/2021

Lisa R. on 1/29/2022

Matthew K. on 8/6/2022

Christopher S. on 12/8/2022

Wilbert W. on 12/18/2022

Gary J. on 5/3/2023

Kerrin L. on 7/17/2023

Arthur C. on 8/1/2023

Melissa S. on 8/13/2023

Ehsan Q. on 10/14/2023

Christohper K. on 12/29/2023

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