Which shock type is caused by spinal injury resulting in vessel dilation?

• A. Anaphylactic Shock
• B. Neurogenic Shock
• C. Obstructive Shock
• D. Cardiogenic Shock

Answer: (B)

When a spinal injury disrupts the pathways that normally control the sympathetic nervous system, the body loses vascular tone. This causes widespread vasodilation, so systemic vascular resistance drops and blood pressure falls. Because the parasympathetic system can predominate without sympathetic input, heart rate often becomes slow (bradycardia) as well. The result is a form of distributive shock characterized by hypotension with warm, dry skin from the vasodilation. This specific pattern after a spinal injury is neurogenic shock.

Other shock types don’t fit the scenario: immune-mediated vasodilation and increased permeability from an allergic reaction describe anaphylactic shock; obstructions to blood flow from tamponade, tension pneumothorax, or massive PE describe obstructive shock; pump failure from heart problems describes cardiogenic shock.