Summary

The autonomic nervous system is under supraspinal control,and therefore its function is disturbed by spinal cord injuries. Clinical conditions related to autonomic dysfunction are autonomic dysreflexia, hyperhidrosis, temperature instability and orthostatic hypotension. Autonomic dysreflexia is a complication of spinal cord injuries at or above the T6 level. The clinical manifestations may include elevated blood pressure above baseline value. Autonomic dysreflexia may be difficult to identify in young children because they may not be able to articulate their symptoms. Hyperhydrosis is seen in individuals with cervical and thoracal injuries and hyperhydrotic regions of the body tend to correspond to the level of injury in the spinal cord. Turk J Phys Med Rehab 2008; 54 Suppl 2: 66-9.
Key Words: Pediatric spinal cord injury, autonomic disfunctions