Spinal
Cord Injury
Composed
of tens of thousands of nerve fibers, the
spinal cord serves as a communications cable
for the body, routing messages from the brain
to the body’s extremities and back again.
Spinal cord injuries can occur anywhere along
this cable, from the base of the skull to
the lower back, and vary greatly in severity
depending on the degree of the injury and
its location. |
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Damage
to the spinal cord may result from a loss of blood
flow (and the resultant loss of oxygen to the nerve
fibers), from bruising by bone fragments, from a
crushing impact or from a complete severing of the
cord.
Typically, spinal injuries are classified as complete
or incomplete. In a complete injury, all sensation
and movement below the level of the injury is lost.
In an incomplete injury, some of the nerve pathways
at the injury site may be spared, allowing for some
sensation and movement below the level of the injury.
Injuries to the spinal cord are usually divided
into two main categories: traumatic and non-traumatic.
Most cases of spinal cord injury are recognized
as traumatic. Injuries are further classified by
the injury location. When the damage occurs between
the neck and the lower back it is referred to as
paraplegia (a paralysis or weakness of the legs).
The loss of feeling and movement may occur higher
than the legs, depending on how high up on the back
the injury is located. A patient with paraplegia
will retain the use of his arms and legs. When an
injury is sustained to the neck it is called quadriplegia
and a patient may suffer partial or complete loss
of sensation and movement in all four limbs.
Researchers estimate that more than 12,600 people
suffer spinal cord injuries in the United States
each year. Of these, approximately 4,800 die before
reaching the hospital. Typically, partial or complete
quadriplegia accounts for 51.3 percent of all spinal
injuries. More than 80 percent of spinal cord injury
patients are male and most are between the ages
of 16 and 30. Motor vehicle accidents and violence
account for 68 percent of all spinal cord injuries
(44% and 24% respectively). After age 45, falls
become the dominant contributor to spinal injuries,
accounting for 22 percent of all SCI patients.
Problems with Spinal Cord Injuries
Depending
on the nature, degree and location of the injury,
spinal cord injuries can result in a number of very
serious or even life-threatening problems. In addition
to the loss of sensation and movement of the body’s
limbs, spinal cord injuries can result in breathing
problems, impairment or loss of sexual function,
loss of bladder and bowel control, even impairment
of the body’s ability to control temperature.
Each year, between one third and two-thirds of all
spinal cord injury patients are readmitted to the
hospital, either for follow-up treatment or for
complications that arise from their injuries. Half
of all spinal cord injury patients suffer other
injuries in addition to the damage caused to their
spinal cords.
Spinal cord injury patients, especially those who
suffer from complete quadriplegia, must often undergo
extensive and long-term rehabilitative therapy as
well and must relearn many of the daily activities
most people take for granted. Spinal cord injury
patients are also more susceptible to respiratory
and other infections as well as mental problems
brought on by depression.
Treating Spinal Cord Injuries
Although
there is no cure for spinal cord injuries and any
damage sustained is permanent, spinal cord injury
patients typically live almost as long as other
patients. Statistically, 85 percent of all spinal
cord injury patients who survive the first 24 hours
after their accident are still alive 10 years later.
Treatment programs for spinal cord injuries range
from physical and mental therapy to surgery. As
long as there are no complications, most patients
go on to live relatively complete or nearly complete,
independent lives.
Sources
for all three subjects - Brain, Spine & Amputation:
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