Examination for level of Spinal Cord Injury
Posted by dkwinter

Cranial nerve XI

  • Shrugs shoulder (trapezius)

C5

  • Raises elbow to level of shoulder (deltoid)

C6

  • Flexes forearm (biceps)

C7

  • Extends forearm (triceps)

C8

  • Flexes wrist and fingers

T1

  • Spreads fingers

L2

  • Flexes hip (iliopsoas)

L3-4

  • Extends knee (quadriceps)
  • Knee jerk reflex

L4-L5 & S1

  • Flexes knee (hamstrings)

L5 (most common disc herniation)

  • Dorsiflexes big toe (EHL)
  • Sensation in medial dorsum of foot and first webspace 

S1 (2nd most common disc herniation)

  • Plantar flexes ankle (gastrocnemicus)
  • Sensation lateral foot
  • Ankle jerk reflex