Autonomic Regulation of Cardiac Rhythm Following Sudden Spinal Trauma

Abstract

Disruption of autonomic control is a common consequence of acute spinal cord trauma, particularly when higher spinal segments are involved. This condition may impair reflex regulation of cardiovascular activity due to loss of supraspinal influence over sympathetic pathways. In this investigation, heart rhythm dynamics were assessed to explore changes in autonomic balance following cervical spinal injury. The study involved a group of individuals with recent traumatic spinal damage and a comparison group without neurological impairments.

Autonomic function was evaluated using heart rate variability (HRV) assessed through both time-based and spectral analysis techniques. Findings revealed a marked alteration in the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic influences, particularly a notable decline in the ratio representing low-to-high frequency components in those with spinal injury. This reduction suggests a suppression of sympathetic modulation, though residual autonomic activity was still detectable. The results support the application of HRV as a non-invasive approach to assess neural regulation of cardiac function in this population. Overall, the study confirms that upper spinal trauma significantly affects autonomic cardiovascular control while indicating some preserved segmental function in the absence of higher regulatory input.