A Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is an injury to the spinal
cord resulting in a change, either temporary or permanent, in the cord's normal
motor, sensory, or autonomic function.[1] Common causes of damage are trauma
(car accident, gunshot, falls, sports injuries, etc.) or disease (transverse
myelitis, polio, spina bifida, Friedreich's ataxia, etc.). The spinal cord does
not have to be severed in order for a loss of function to occur. Depending on
where the spinal cord and nerve roots are damaged, the symptoms can vary
widely, from pain to paralysis to incontinence.[2][3] Spinal cord injuries are
described at various levels of "incomplete", which can vary from
having no effect on the patient to a "complete" injury which means a
total loss of function.
Treatment of spinal cord injuries starts with restraining
the spine and controlling inflammation to prevent further damage. The actual
treatment can vary widely depending on the location and extent of the injury.
In many cases, spinal cord injuries require substantial physical therapy and
rehabilitation, especially if the patient's injury interferes with activities
of daily life.
Research into treatments for spinal cord injuries
includes controlled hypothermia and stem cells, though many treatments have not
been studied thoroughly and very little new research has been implemented in
standard care.
Spinal Cord Injury: Basic Facts
Spinal cord injury occurs when there is any damage to the
spinal cord that blocks communication between the brain and the body. After a
spinal cord injury, a person’s sensory, motor and reflex messages are affected
and may not be able to get past the damage in the spinal cord. In general, the
higher on the spinal cord the injury occurs, the more dysfunction the person
will experience. Injuries are referred to as complete or incomplete, based on
whether any movement and sensation occurs at or below the level of injury.
The most important – and sometimes frustrating – thing to
know is that each person’s recovery from spinal cord injury is different.
CAUSES
Traumatic injuries
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Football
- Falls
- Gymnastics
- Violence
- Diving into shallow water
Spinal cord injuries affect more men than women. The
majority of people who sustain a spinal cord injury are young adults between
the ages of 16 and 30 because of riskier behaviors.
Non-traumatic injuries/illnesses
- canncer Osteoporosis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Inflammation of the spinal cord
- Arthritis
EFFECTS
- The effects of spinal cord injury may include the following:
- Loss of movement
- Loss of sensation
- Loss of bowel and/or bladder control
- Exaggerated reflex actions or spasms
- Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity and fertility
- Pain or intense stinging sensation