Spinal injury may not mean a spinal cord injury; the term can be used for any injury to the spine. Whiplash, for example, can result in a spinal injury that is temporary. When the injuries sustained do affect the spinal cord, however, they are very serious and may be unable to be repaired.
Injuries to the spine can happen different ways. They can be from tumors, diseases or from developmental problems. Often, the injury is traumatic, resulting from work-related or automobile accidents. The trauma may be only to the vertebrae initially, which is why it is critical not to move a person with neck or back injuries. This movement itself can cause injury to the spinal cord.
Signals are sent to and from the brain through the spinal cord. Because of this, the symptoms of spinal cord injury are dependent on where it occurs. Injuries to the spine can be classified as either being complete or incomplete.
If the injury is termed complete, it signifies that motor and sensory function has been lost below a specific level of the spine. People with injuries in this category rarely recover the ability to walk.
In incomplete injuries, some sensory and/or motor function is retained below the level of injury. Most people who retain some function will recover some ability to move themselves. This may or may not include the ability to walk unassisted.
Locomotion is, of course, only part of the function affected by spinal cord injury. Nerves come off the spinal column and travel to the various organs of the body so that they can perform their functions. Spinal injury will therefore affect those functions below the level of injury.
Spinal injury at the cervical level may affect breathing, for example, sometimes to the extent of respiratory aid being necessary. Other level injuries may affect function of the any of the other organs such as the urinary bladder, bowels, gall bladder and kidneys. Erectile dysfunction is a common result, as are incontinence and infections.
Other results of this type of injury include pain, spasticity of reflexes and atrophy of muscle. As already discussed, one of the primary effects is on locomotion and other motor function. Spinal injuries may result in paraplegia or quadriplegia.
When trauma first occurs, there is inflammation at the injury site. It is when this inflammation is reduced that there is a better idea of how extensive and permanent the damage is to the cord. Although victims with incomplete spinal injury may regain partial locomotion, it is rare for complete function to be regained.
One should always be examined immediately falling any type of accident. Injuries which do not seem severe at the time, may worse over time. For example, injuries to the spinal vertebrae could end up causing spinal injury of the cord.
Matthew Kerridge is an expert in accident claims. If you want further information about spinal injury or are searching for a reputable spinal injury law firm please visit http://personalinjury.ffw.com
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