Hello, I am a nursing student trying to understand lower thoracic spinal cord injuries and how they affect lab values like CBC, electrolytes, platelets, ect. I know RBC, hbg, hct would be low because of internal bleeding/surgery but I am confused on how spinal injuries affect electrolytes. Would the have hypocalcemia, hypernatremia, ect and why?
It will not cause Hypocalcaemia but rather persons with vitamin D deficiency can have Hypocalcaemia as well which can cause brittle bones as in Osteoporosis in elderly persons and lead to fragility Fractures of the spine. If CBC white cells are raised it could suggest infection in the spine or meninges. Repeated blood transfusions during surgery without calcium replacement can also cause Hypocalcaemia.