Category Archives: Spinal Cord Injury Treatment

Quadriplegia, incomplete 31.2% - Paraplegia, complete 28.2% - Paraplegia, incomplete 23.1% - Quadriplegia, complete 17.5% The figures above represent the resultant permanent disability suffered by a survey of people breaking their backs and necks. These statistics show that an incomplete spinal cord injury is more prevalent than complete ones. The figures for incomplete spinal cord injury may indeed be much higher because they don't take account of those people who have been treated by general hospitals instead of a specialist spinal injuries unit. Today advances in medical knowledge and patient management at the scene of an injury mean a lot more people will survive what used to be a fatal injury. These advances, critically in patient management are leading to a greater prevalence of incomplete injuries too. An incomplete spinal cord injury is the term used to describe damage to the spinal cord that is not absolute. The incomplete injury will vary enormously from person to person and will be entirely dependant on the way the spinal cord has been compromised. The true extent of many incomplete injuries isn't fully known until 6-8 weeks post injury. The spinal cord normally goes into what is called spinal shock after it has … Continue reading →

When treating a person with a spinal cord injury, repairing the damage created by injury is the ultimate goal. By using a variety of treatments, greater improvements are achieved, and, therefore, treatment should not be limited to one method. Furthermore, increasing activity will increase his/her chances of recovery.[1] The rehabilitation process following a spinal cord injury typically begins in the acute care setting. Occupational therapy plays an important role in the management of SCI.[2] Recent studies emphasize the importance of early occupational therapy, started immediately after the client is stable. This process includes teaching of coping skills, and physical therapy.[3] Physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, psychologists and other health care professionals typically work as a team under the coordination of a physiatrist to decide on goals with the patient and develop a plan of discharge that is appropriate for the patients condition. In the first step, the focus is on support and prevention. Interventions aim to give the individual a sense of control over a situation in which the patient likely feels little independence.[4] As the patient becomes more stable, they may move to a rehabilitation facility or remain in the acute care setting. The patient begins to take … Continue reading →

Treatment for spinal cord injuries can be divided into to two stages: acute and rehabilitation. The acute phase begins at the time of injury, and lasts until the person is stabilized. The rehabilitation phase begins as soon as the person has stabilized and is ready to begin working toward his or her independence. During the acute phase, it is very important that the person receive prompt medical care. The faster the person accesses treatment, the better his or her chances are at having the least amount of impairment possible. In most cases, like in the all too common suv rollover, the injured person will be sent to the closest hospital or center equipped to deal with spinal cord injuries. The first few days of the acute stage are accompanied by spinal shock, in which the persons reflexes dont work. During this stage, its very difficult to determine an exact prognosis, as some function beyond what is currently being seen may occur later. At this stage other complications from the accident or injury will also be present, such as brain injury, broken bones, or bruising. Once the acute phase is over and the person has been stabilized, he or she enters … Continue reading →

Spinal cord injuries are caused when delicate spinal cord tissue is bruised, torn, or crushed. Spinal cord injuries can be caused by accidents, but can also be caused by diseases or disorders. Types of Spinal Cord Injury | Complete (Traumatic) |Incomplete (non-traumatic) As many as 400,000 Americans are living with spinal cord injuries. Most spinal cord injuries occur between the ages of 16 and 30, and about 82 percent of those who experience spinal cord injuries are male. Motor vehicle accidents account for approximately 44 percent of all spinal cord injuries. Other common causes include: After the spinal cord has been injured, messages no longer flow through the damaged area, essentially cutting off information between the brain and certain parts of the body. Generally, the functions of the body located above the point of injury will continue to work with no loss of function, while the areas of the body located below the point of injury will be impaired. Impairment can include the following: Doctors and specialists use the level of injury to most accurately predict which parts of the body are most likely to be affected by loss of movement and sensation. Complete injuries will result in total loss … Continue reading →

Basic Spinal Cord Anatomy To understand this confusion and what you are actually being told when your injury is described as being at a certain level, it is necessary to understand basic spinal anatomy. The spine and the spinal cord are two different structures. The spinal cord is a long series of nerve cells and fibers running from the base of the brain to shortly above the tailbone. It is encased in the bony vertebrae of the spine, which offers it some protection. The spinal cord relays nerve signals from the brain to all parts of the body and from all points of the body back to the brain. Part of the confusion regarding spinal cord injury levels comes from the fact that the spine and the spinal cord each are divided into named segments which do not always correspond to each other. The spine itself is divided into vertebral segments corresponding to each of the vertebrae. The spinal cord is divided into neurological segmental levels, meaning that the focus is on what part of the body the nerves from each section control. The spine is divided into seven neck (cervical) vertebrae, twelve chest (thoracic) vertebra, five back (lumbar) vertebrae, … Continue reading →

Treatment of spinal cord injury may involve medication, and surgery, and always requires physical therapy. Spinal cord injury may be due to either traumatic or non-traumatic causes. Non-traumatic causes of spinal cord injury occur over time and include arthritis, cancer, infection, blood vessels problems, bleeding, and inflammation. In the case of traumatic spinal cord injury due to an accident, immediate, comprehensive trauma care is crucial for both survival and long-term outcome. A competent trauma team can do much to minimize the spread of damage from a spinal cord injury. The long-term prognosis for a spinal cord injury depends on the nature and location of the injury, as well as the quality of care received. If emergency medical personnel suspect you have sustained a spinal injury, they will do everything possible to prevent further injury. While medics work to stabilize your heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, your head and neck will be put into a special brace to prevent movement and additional injury. You will be put on stiff back board to prevent injury while you are being loaded in the ambulance and taken to the hospital. Once at the trauma center, doctors will continue to work to make sure … Continue reading →

Back to TopCauses The spinal cord contains the nerves that carry messages between your brain and body. The cord passes through your neck and back. Spinal cord trauma can be caused by injuries to the spine, such as: A minor injury can damage the spinal cord if the spine is weakened, such as from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis. Injury can also occur if the spinal canal protecting the spinal cord has become too narrow (spinal stenosis) due to the normal aging process. Direct injury, such as bruises, can occur to the spinal cord if the bones or disks have been weakened. Fragments of bone (such as from broken vertebrae, which are the spine bones) or fragments of metal (such as from a traffic accident or gunshot) can damage the spinal cord. Direct damage can occur if the spinal cord is pulled, pressed sideways, or compressed. This may occur if the head, neck, or backis twisted abnormally during an accident or intense chiropractic manipulation. Bleeding, fluid buildup, and swelling can occur inside or outside the spinal cord (but within the spinal canal). Thebuildup of blood or fluid canpress onthe spinal cord and damage it. Most spinal cord trauma happens to young, … Continue reading →

Each year 12,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries (SCI) are reported throughout the U.S. Approximately 10 percent of those affect children under age 16. In the mid-1980s, Shriners Hospitals for Children established the nations first SCI rehabilitation programs specifically designed for children and teenagers. At Shriners Hospitals for Children, an interdisciplinary team of surgeons and other physicians, therapists, therapeutic recreation specialists, psychologists, social workers and dieticians work together to provide individualized, comprehensive care plans for our patients with SCI. In addition to providing treatment, our staff works with the patients family members to help them understand the social, emotional and developmental implications of an SCI to help ensure the best possible outcome for the child, including the ability to have a full, productive life. Innovative therapies offered at Shriners Hospitals for Children include body-weight supported manual and automated treadmill training. Both of these methods provide weight-bearing opportunities and can help stimulate muscles and build strength and stamina. Our programs also offer functional electric stimulation (FES), which is a sophisticated, computerized system that sends small doses of electrical current to peripheral nerves, stimulating paralyzed muscles. FES can be used with specialized bikes to provide an opportunity for exercise. We also … Continue reading →

Treatment begins with the emergency medical personnel who make an initial evaluation and immobilise the patient for transport. Immediate medical care within the first 8 hours following injury is critical to the patient's recovery. Nowadays there is much greater knowledge about the moving and handling of spinal injury patients. Incorrect techniques used at this stage could worsen the injuries considerably. When injury occurs and for a period of time thereafter, the spinal cord responds by swelling. Treatment starts with steroid drugs, these can be administered at the scene by an air ambulance Doctor or trained paramedic. These drugs reduce inflammation in the injured area and help to prevent further damage to cellular membranes that can cause nerve death. Sparing nerves from further damage and death is crucial. Each patient's injury is unique. Some patients require surgery to stabilise the spine, correct a gross misalignment, or to remove tissue causing cord or nerve compression. Spinal stabilisation often helps to prevent further damage. Some patients may be placed in traction and the spine allowed to heal naturally. Every injury is unique as is the course of post injury treatment that follows. Different tissue and bony structures including vertebrae misaligned from the force … Continue reading →

The spinal cord contains the nerves that carry messages between your brain and body. The cord passes through your neck and back. Spinal cord trauma can be caused by injuries to the spine, such as: A minor injury can damage the spinal cord if the spine is weakened, such as from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis. Injury can also occur if the spinal canal protecting the spinal cord has become too narrow (spinal stenosis) due to the normal aging process. Direct injury, such as bruises, can occur to the spinal cord if the bones or disks have been weakened. Fragments of bone (such as from broken vertebrae, which are the spine bones) or fragments of metal (such as from a traffic accident or gunshot) can damage the spinal cord. Direct damage can occur if the spinal cord is pulled, pressed sideways, or compressed. This may occur if the head, neck, or backis twisted abnormally during an accident or intense chiropractic manipulation. Bleeding, fluid buildup, and swelling can occur inside or outside the spinal cord (but within the spinal canal). Thebuildup of blood or fluid canpress onthe spinal cord and damage it. Most spinal cord trauma happens to young, healthy individuals. Men … Continue reading →