Spinal cord injury

Abdominal aortic aneurysm Acute coronary syndrome (NSTEMI)Acute coronary syndrome (STEMI)Acute decompensated heart failure Acute limb ischemia Acute mesenteric ischemia Aortic dissection Aortic stenosis Atrial fibrillation and flutter Bradyarrhythmia and heart block Cardiac arrest Deep vein thrombosis Myocarditis Pericarditis Pulmonary embolism Stable angina Superficial thrombophlebitis Superior vena cava syndrome Supraventricular tachycardia Syncope (cardiogenic)Unstable angina Ventricular tachycardia

Acute bronchitis Acute respiratory failure Aspiration pneumonia Asthma exacerbation Bronchiolitis Community-acquired pneumonia COVID-19 pneumonia COPD exacerbation Croup Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis)Epiglottitis Hemothorax Hospital-acquired pneumonia Pleural effusion Pneumothorax (traumatic)Pulmonary contusion Spontaneous pneumothorax

Bell's palsy Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo Brain abscess Cauda equina syndrome Cervical radiculopathy Concussion (mild traumatic brain injury)Encephalitis Guillain-Barré syndrome Hemorrhagic stroke (intracerebral)Ischemic stroke Lumbar radiculopathy Malignant spinal cord compression Migraine Peripheral neuropathy (acute)Retropharyngeal abscess Schizophrenia (acute exacerbation)Seizure (breakthrough:known epilepsy)Seizure (first-time)Spinal cord injury Status epilepticus Subarachnoid hemorrhage Tension headache Transient ischemic attack Traumatic brain injury (moderate-severe)Vestibular neuritis Viral meningitis

Acute appendicitis Acute cholecystitis Acute diverticulitis Acute pancreatitis Anal fissure Choledocholithiasis and cholangitis Clostridioides difficile colitis Gastritis Gastroenteritis (viral and bacterial)Gastroesophageal reflux disease Incarcerated or strangulated hernia Inflammatory bowel disease flare Large bowel obstruction Lower GI hemorrhage Peptic ulcer disease Perforated viscus Small bowel obstruction Upper GI hemorrhage

Acute prostatitis Acute urinary retention Ectopic pregnancy Epididymitis Orchitis Ovarian torsion Paraphimosis Pelvic inflammatory disease Priapism Pyelonephritis Renal laceration Ruptured ovarian cyst Testicular torsion Tubo-ovarian abscess Urinary tract infection (uncomplicated)Urolithiasis (renal colic)Vaginal bleeding (non-pregnant)

Acute sinusitis Acute tonsillitis Acute upper respiratory infection Animal bite Bacterial meningitis Cellulitis Conjunctivitis (bacterial)Dental abscess Endocarditis Febrile neutropenia Fournier gangrene Hand-foot-mouth disease Hepatitis (acute)Herpes zoster HIV-related illness Human bite Impetigo Infected diabetic foot ulcer Infectious mononucleosis Influenza Necrotizing fasciitis Osteomyelitis Otitis externa Parasitic infection Periorbital cellulitis Peritonsillar abscess Scabies Sepsis Septic arthritis Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis Tick-borne illness (Lyme disease)Tinea infection Tuberculosis Viral exanthem Wound infection

Achilles tendon rupture ACL and mceniscus tear Ankle fracture Ankle sprain Burn Calcaneus fracture Cervical spine fracture Clavicle fracture Dental avulsion Distal radius fracture Drowning Elbow fracture and dislocation Electrical injury Facial bone fracture Facial laceration Femur fracture Fingertip amputation Forearm fracture (radius and ulna)Frostbite Hand:finger laceration Heat exhaustion Heat stroke Hip fracture Humeral shaft fracture Knee dislocation Knee sprain Lightning injury Mandible fracture Metacarpal fracture Metatarsal fracture Muscle strain Nasal fracture Non-accidental trauma Orbital fracture Patella fracture Phalanx fracture (finger)Proximal humerus fracture Pulmonary contusion Rib fracture Rotator cuff tear (acute traumatic)Scalp laceration Scaphoid fracture Shoulder dislocation Skull fracture Splenic laceration Sternal fracture Supracondylar pediatric fracture Tendon laceration (hand:wrist)Thoracic and lumbar spine fracture Tibia:fibula fracture Tibial plateau fracture Toe fracture Traumatic epistaxis Traumatic hyphema

Acetaminophen toxicity Alcohol intoxication Alcohol withdrawal Anticholinergic toxicity Anticoagulant overdose Benzodiazepine overdose Benzodiazepine:sedative overdose Beta-blocker and calcium channel blocker toxicity Carbon monoxide poisoning Caustic ingestion Digoxin toxicity Drug eruption Foreign body ingestion Opioid intoxication Opioid overdose Opioid withdrawal Organophosphate Salicylate toxicity Serotonin syndrome Stimulant intoxication (cocaine, methamphetamine)Tricyclic antidepressant overdose

Acute anxiety Acute psychosis Agitation:behavioral emergency Bipolar disorder Conversion disorder Major depressive episode Neuroleptic malignant syndrome Suicidal ideation and attempt

Acute low back pain (mechanical)Bursitis Cervical radiculopathy Costochondritis Gout (acute)Lumbar radiculopathy Pseudogout Tendinitis

Acute eczema (Eczema acute flare)Allergic contact dermatitis Erythema multiforme Henoch-Schönlein purpura Pressure injury Psoriasis (acute flare)Stevens-Johnson syndrome Toxic epidermal necrolysis Urticaria (acute)

Envenomation (snake, spider, insect)High-altitude illness Hypothermia

Acute chest syndrome Coagulopathy Hyperviscosity syndrome Sickle cell crisis (vaso-occlusive)Symptomatic anemia Thrombocytopenia (severe)Tumor lysis syndrome

Bronchiolitis Croup Emergency delivery Febrile seizure Kawasaki disease Neonatal jaundice Neonatal sepsis Nursemaid's elbow Pediatric fever 0 to 28 days Pediatric fever 29 to 60 days Pediatric fever 61 to 90 days Pyloric stenosis Slipped capital femoral epiphysis Intussusception

Adrenal crisis Diabetic ketoacidosis Hypercalcemia Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state Hypertensive emergency Hypertensive urgency Hypoglycemia Myasthenia gravis crisis Myxedema coma Severe hyperkalemia Severe hyponatremia Thyroid storm

Acute laryngitis Acute otitis media Acute pharyngitis Cerumen impaction Epistaxis (anterior)Nasal foreign body Otitis externa Tympanic membrane perforation

Acute angle-closure glaucoma Central retinal artery occlusion Chemical eye injury Corneal abrasion Corneal ulcer Globe rupture Ocular foreign body Orbital cellulitis Retinal detachment

Hyperemesis gravidarum Painful vaginal bleeding in pregnancy Placenta previa Placental abruption Preeclampsia:eclampsia Preterm labor Threatened:inevitable:incomplete abortion

Anaphylaxis Angioedema Cannabis-induced hyperemesis

Spinal cord injury

Clinical Assessment Checklist

Browse categories and answer follow-up questions to refine your symptom profile.

Immediate priorities

Time-critical stabilization

Airway compromise risk with high cervical injury

If apneic or inadequate ventilation, intubation with in-line stabilization

If impending respiratory failure, early intubation before transfer

Spinal motion restriction

Rigid collar plus long-axis support until imaging and clearance

Neutral alignment

Hemorrhagic shock exclusion before neurogenic shock label

If hypotension with tachycardia, treat as hemorrhage until proven otherwise

If hypotension with bradycardia and warm extremities, neurogenic shock pattern

Hypoxia avoidance

SpO2 target at least 94%

Ventilation to normocapnia

Hypotension avoidance

SBP at least 90 mmHg

MAP augmentation strategy per acute SCI guidance

Neurologic triage

Neurologic severity snapshot

Key time points

Time of injury

Time last normal neurologic function

Rapid localization

Highest abnormal dermatome

Motor level

High-risk syndromes

Central cord syndrome

Upper extremity weakness predominance

Older patient with fall and hyperextension mechanism

Anterior cord syndrome

Motor loss with pain and temperature loss

Dorsal column sparing pattern

Brown-Sequard syndrome

Ipsilateral motor and proprioception loss

Contralateral pain and temperature loss

Spinal shock vs neurogenic shock separation

Spinal shock

Transient areflexia below lesion

Flaccid paralysis

Neurogenic shock

Hypotension from vasoplegia

Bradycardia from unopposed vagal tone

Hemodynamic targets

Perfusion goals

MAP augmentation range

MAP at least 75 to 80 mmHg

Weak recommendation

Very low quality evidence

AO Spine and Praxis 2024 hemodynamic guideline

MAP not higher than 90 to 95 mmHg

Weak recommendation

Very low quality evidence

AO Spine and Praxis 2024 hemodynamic guideline

Avoidance thresholds

SBP less than 90 mmHg associated with worse outcomes in SCI cohorts

Hypoxia and hypercapnia risk for secondary cord injury

Consultation and time goals

Early specialty activation

Neurosurgery or spine surgery early notification

Any neurologic deficit

Any cord compression concern

Any unstable fracture or dislocation

Trauma team coordination

Polytrauma pathway parallel to SCI pathway

Definitive care center transfer triggers

Suspected cervical SCI

Progressive neurologic deficit

Neurogenic shock requiring vasopressors

MRI need with surgical planning

Medical Disclaimer

SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.

Last Reviewed: January 15, 2026 by SymptomDX Medical Team

SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.

← Management Protocols

Home Management ProtocolsSpinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury

Clinical Assessment Checklist

Browse categories and answer follow-up questions to refine your symptom profile.

Immediate priorities

Time-critical stabilization

Airway compromise risk with high cervical injury

If apneic or inadequate ventilation, intubation with in-line stabilization

If impending respiratory failure, early intubation before transfer

Spinal motion restriction

Rigid collar plus long-axis support until imaging and clearance

Neutral alignment

Hemorrhagic shock exclusion before neurogenic shock label

If hypotension with tachycardia, treat as hemorrhage until proven otherwise

If hypotension with bradycardia and warm extremities, neurogenic shock pattern

Hypoxia avoidance

SpO2 target at least 94%

Ventilation to normocapnia

Hypotension avoidance

SBP at least 90 mmHg

MAP augmentation strategy per acute SCI guidance

Neurologic triage

Neurologic severity snapshot

Key time points

Time of injury

Time last normal neurologic function

Rapid localization

Highest abnormal dermatome

Motor level

High-risk syndromes

Central cord syndrome

Upper extremity weakness predominance

Older patient with fall and hyperextension mechanism

Anterior cord syndrome

Motor loss with pain and temperature loss

Dorsal column sparing pattern

Brown-Sequard syndrome

Ipsilateral motor and proprioception loss

Contralateral pain and temperature loss

Spinal shock vs neurogenic shock separation

Spinal shock

Transient areflexia below lesion

Flaccid paralysis

Neurogenic shock

Hypotension from vasoplegia

Bradycardia from unopposed vagal tone

Hemodynamic targets

Perfusion goals

MAP augmentation range

MAP at least 75 to 80 mmHg

Weak recommendation

Very low quality evidence

AO Spine and Praxis 2024 hemodynamic guideline

MAP not higher than 90 to 95 mmHg

Weak recommendation

Very low quality evidence

AO Spine and Praxis 2024 hemodynamic guideline

Avoidance thresholds

SBP less than 90 mmHg associated with worse outcomes in SCI cohorts

Hypoxia and hypercapnia risk for secondary cord injury

Consultation and time goals

Early specialty activation

Neurosurgery or spine surgery early notification

Any neurologic deficit

Any cord compression concern

Any unstable fracture or dislocation

Trauma team coordination

Polytrauma pathway parallel to SCI pathway

Definitive care center transfer triggers

Suspected cervical SCI

Progressive neurologic deficit

Neurogenic shock requiring vasopressors

MRI need with surgical planning

Medical Disclaimer

SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.

Last Reviewed: January 15, 2026 by SymptomDX Medical Team

SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.

← Management Protocols

Home Management ProtocolsSpinal cord injury