Introduction
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can significantly impact one’s health and daily life due to their complicated recovery and impact on other body systems. In the presented case scenario, the patient complains of weakness, numbness, and tingling in the left hand. The diagnostic tests reveal a degenerative disc disease at C6-C7.
The patient’s history includes a traumatic injury of the head and neck. However, the accident in which the man was hurt happened several years ago and did not manifest any symptoms previously. The pathophysiologic processes may demonstrate the slow progression of the injury and its impact on the patient’s health.
Neurological and Musculoskeletal Pathophysiological Processes Contributing to Patient Symptoms
The accident, as described by the patient, involved him falling backward and hitting his head on a car fender. Thus, it is most likely that the patient suffered a hyperflexion injury to his spine. The neck moved forward, compressing the vascular structures or the spinal cord parenchyma (McCance & Huether, 2019). The ligaments at the back of the neck were stretched, while the front of the spine was compressed, potentially leading to a wedge fracture (McCance & Huether, 2019). These pathophysiological processes in the musculoskeletal systems influence the health of the bones in the spine, becoming the primary injury.
When such mechanical trauma occurs, the cord may be lacerated, compressed, concussed, hemorrhaged, or otherwise damaged. It is possible that the man, in this case, encountered compression, which explains the neuroforaminal narrowing, which put additional pressure on the nervous system. The extent of the injury likely was minor at the time of the accident. Still, the lack of timely medical care exacerbated the pressure on the nerves, causing limited function at C6-C7 (Chin, 2018). As an incomplete lesion developed with time, the symptoms increased in severity and affected the perfusion and oxygenation of the spinal cord.
Impact of Racial and Ethnic Variables on Physiological Functioning
There are no direct racial/ethnic influences that increase one’s risk of SCI. Depending on their specific comorbidities and socioeconomic circumstances, patients who encounter mechanical injuries may recover. Some degree of racial disparity exists in the recovery process, as many people of color may not have access to medical care (Adigweme & Nelson, 2019). Thus, as SCI progresses and worsens with time, the physiological processes in individuals who do not receive care contribute to developing other conditions, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, and other musculoskeletal issues (Quiñones et al., 2021). As a result, non-white older adults are at a higher risk of developing several complications following a mechanical injury.
Interaction of Pathophysiological Processes and Their Effects on the Patient
The neurological and musculoskeletal processes the SCI brings affect the patient’s health. Notably, the neuroforaminal narrowing of the C6-C7 disks leads to the hands’ weakening, numbness, and tingling sensation. C6-level spinal nerves are responsible for elbow and wrist movements, while C7 nerves control the small muscles in one’s hand (McCance & Huether, 2019). As the patient only presents with symptoms in one hand, it is possible that the injury involved one side of the spine and that lacerations happened on the left side of the spinal nerve.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the patient’s symptoms and diagnostic test results point to the effects of SCI. The injury, which occurred several years ago, was left untreated and progressed into degeneration of discs in the cervical region, which is responsible for the coordination and movement of arms and hands. The impingement of the nerve root and the neuroforaminal narrowing can be explained by the hyperflexion of the region. Although the patient’s race or ethnicity does not significantly contribute to the development of this condition, non-white patients have a statistically higher risk of disease development due to limited access to proper care.
References
Adigweme, O., & Nelson, C. (2019). Ethnic and racial differences and disparities. The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States. Web.
Chin, L. S. (2018). Spinal cord injuries. Medscape. Web.
McCance, K. L. & Huether, S. E. (2019). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed.). Mosby/Elsevier.
Quiñones, A. R., Newsom, J. T., Elman, M. R., Markwardt, S., Nagel, C. L., Dorr, D. A., Allore, H. A., & Botoseneanu, A. (2021). Racial and ethnic differences in multimorbidity changes over time. Medical Care, 59(5), 402-409. Web.