Which level of spinal cord injury places a person at risk for autonomic dysreflexia?

Which level of spinal cord injury places a person at risk for autonomic dysreflexia?

• A. T4
• B. T8
• C. C5
• D. T6

Answer: (D)

Autonomic dysreflexia happens when a spinal cord injury is at or above the sixth thoracic level. The brain loses ability to regulate the massive sympathetic response that originates below the injury. A noxious stimulus below the lesion—such as bladder distension or bowel impaction—triggers intense sympathetic activity, causing widespread vasoconstriction beneath the injury and a dangerous rise in blood pressure. The body's attempt to compensate via parasympathetic signals above the injury results in symptoms like a pounding headache, sweating, and flushing above the level of injury, with bradycardia, but the vasoconstriction below the lesion isn’t easily controlled. Therefore, injuries at or above T6 place a person at risk, making that level the critical threshold.

Autonomic dysreflexia happens when a spinal cord injury is at or above the sixth thoracic level. The brain loses ability to regulate the massive sympathetic response that originates below the injury. A noxious stimulus below the lesion—such as bladder distension or bowel impaction—triggers intense sympathetic activity, causing widespread vasoconstriction beneath the injury and a dangerous rise in blood pressure. The body's attempt to compensate via parasympathetic signals above the injury results in symptoms like a pounding headache, sweating, and flushing above the level of injury, with bradycardia, but the vasoconstriction below the lesion isn’t easily controlled. Therefore, injuries at or above T6 place a person at risk, making that level the critical threshold.