Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that causes changes in its function, either temporary or permanent. These changes translate into loss of muscle function, sensation, or autonomic function in parts of the body served by the spinal cord below the level of the lesion.

Symptoms

Your ability to control your limbs after spinal cord injury depends on two factors: the place of the injury along your spinal cord and the severity of injury to the spinal cord.

The lowest part of your spinal cord that functions normally after injury is referred to as the neurological level of your injury. The severity of the injury is often called "the completeness" and is classified as either of the following:

·         Complete. If almost all feeling (sensory) and all ability to control movement (motor function) are lost below the spinal cord injury, your injury is called complete.

·         Incomplete. If you have some motor or sensory function below the affected area, your injury is called incomplete. There are varying degrees of incomplete injury.

Emergency signs and symptoms of spinal cord injury after an accident may include:

·         Extreme back pain or pressure in your neck, head or back

·         Weakness, incoordination or paralysis in any part of your body

·         Numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in your hands, fingers, feet or toes

·         Loss of bladder or bowel control

·         Difficulty with balance and walking

·         Impaired breathing after injury

·         An oddly positioned or twisted neck or back

Precautions

·         Don't move the injured person — permanent paralysis and other serious complications may result

·         Call emergency medical assistance number

·         Keep the person still

·         Place heavy towels on both sides of the neck or hold the head and neck to prevent them from moving until emergency care arrives

·         Provide basic first aid, such as stopping any bleeding and making the person comfortable, without moving the head or neck

Causes

Spinal cord injuries result from damage to the vertebrae, ligaments or disks of the spinal column or to the spinal cord itself.

A traumatic spinal cord injury may stem from a sudden, traumatic blow to your spine that fractures, dislocates, crushes, or compresses one or more of your vertebrae. It also may result from a gunshot or knife wound that penetrates and cuts your spinal cord.

Additional damage usually occurs over days or weeks because of bleeding, swelling, inflammation and fluid accumulation in and around your spinal cord.

A nontraumatic spinal cord injury may be caused by arthritis, cancer, inflammation, infections or disk degeneration of the spine.

Common causes of spinal cord injury

·         Motor vehicle accidents

·         Falls

·         Acts of violence.

·         Sports and recreation injuries

·         Alcohol.

·         Diseases.

Treatment

Traumatic spinal cord injuries are emergencies, and the person who's injured may not be able to participate in his or her care in the beginning.

A number of specialists will be involved in stabilizing the condition, including a doctor who specializes in nervous system disorders (neurologist) and a surgeon who specializes in spinal cord injuries and other nervous system problems (neurosurgeon), among others.

The rehabilitation team, which will include a variety of specialists, will be led by a doctor who specializes in spinal cord injury.

If you have a possible spinal cord injury or you accompany someone who's had a spinal cord injury and can't provide the necessary information, here are some things you can do to facilitate care.