Trauma Case Study Essay

Tom has been experiencing changes in his sensations due to a recent tumor in the posterior aspect of the spinal cord at C6. Considering that the injury on in the posterior aspect, the ascending tract of the dorsal column medial lemniscus (DCML) will be affected. As a result, Tom has lost bilateral conscious proprioception, vibration, discriminative touch, and stereognosis, which may also lead to sensory ataxia Despite all the sensations that have been affected, Tom will have other sensations that remain intact. These sensations include his ability to sense discriminative pain, crude touch, pressure and temperature because they are controlled in the anterior lateral spino-thamlaic (ALST). The sensory deficits will be present in dermatomes
As a result of the sensory changes Tom will have difficulties performing several activities. Such activities include getting dressed, eating, and using the bathroom. He wall also have difficulties walking, wheelchair propulsions, and getting in and out of bed. To address these deficits, there are several interventions that can be used to improve his ability to function independently. Some of the possible interventions include mobility training, transfer training, and balance training, as well as addressing deficits in activities of daily living. To address mobility, Tom would need to learn how to use a wheelchair. During transfer training Tom would learn how get in and out of bed independently with necessary devices. Also, he will learn how to get in and out of his wheelchair safely to allow for independent mobility. For balance training, Tom can compensate for lost somatosensory information by relying on visual input. Lastly, to address deficits in activities of daily living, Tom would need to learn how to get dressed and groom himself, as well as how to use the restroom and how to eat. Educating Tom in the use of assistive devices including different utensils may be necessary to accomplish those