Category Archives: Spinal Cord Injury Treatment

Divisions of Spinal Segments Segmental Spinal Cord Level and Motor Function Level Motor Function C1-C6 Neck flexors C1-T1 Neck extensors C3, C4, C5 Supply diaphragm (mostly C4) C5, C6 Shoulder movement, raise arm (deltoid); flexion of elbow (biceps); C6 externally rotates the arm (supinates) C6, C7 Extends elbow and wrist (triceps and wrist extensors); pronates wrist C7, T1 Flexes wrist C7, T1 Supply small muscles of the hand T1 -T6 Intercostals and trunk above the waist T7-L1 Abdominal muscles L1, L2, L3, L4 Thigh flexion L2, L3, L4 Thigh adduction L4, L5, S1 Thigh abduction L5, S1, S2 Extension of leg at the hip (gluteus maximus) L2, L3, L4 Extension of leg at the knee (quadriceps femoris) L4, L5, S1, S2 Flexion of leg at the knee (hamstrings) L4, L5, S1 Dorsiflexion of foot (tibialis anterior) L4, L5, S1 Extension of toes L5, S1, S2 Plantar flexion of foot L5, S1, S2 Flexion of toes The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain (the medulla oblongata specifically). The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system (CNS). The spinal cord begins at the occipital bone … Continue reading →

December 02, 2013 MINNEAPOLIS - Scientists may have found a new treatment that can help people with spinal cord injuries walk better. The research is published in the November 27, 2013, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. "About 59 percent of all spinal injuries are incomplete, leaving pathways that could allow the spinal cord to change in a way that allows people to walk again. Unfortunately, usually a person affected by this type of spinal injury seldom recovers the ability to walk normally," said study author Randy D. Trumbower, PT, PhD, with Emory University in Atlanta. "Our research proposes a promising new way for the spinal cord to make the connections needed to walk better." The research involved 19 people with spine injuries between levels C2 and T12, no joint shortening, some controlled ankle, knee, and hip movements, and the ability to walk at least one step without human assistance. Research team members were based at Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and Shepherd Center in Atlanta, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The participants were exposed to short periods of breathing low oxygen levels, which is called … Continue reading →

Dogs with certain spinal injuries are receiving experimental treatment at Iowa State's College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Nicholas Jeffery, professor of veterinary clinical sciences, has been conducting the research.Jeffery, who is from the United Kingdom, said he has always had an interest in spinal cord treatment. He began developing the project in the U.K. before he came to Iowa State. While at Iowa State, he was able to set up the project which began in July 2013. Theres a lot of potential in things here, Jeffery said. About 60 dogs will participate in the project, which will last about three years, Jeffry said. He uses the Internet to find dogs to participate in the trial, including a website called Dodgers List. The trial is also publicized. Jeffery said eligible dogs are ones that have been paralyzed in both hind legs for three months. The trial is also limited to smaller dogs. The dogs will all eventually be injected with a drug that breaks down the scar tissue around the spinal cord, which prevents the making of new connections. Because the trial is an experiment, it is conducted in a double blind fashion where only Jeffery will know what he is … Continue reading →

By Mayo Clinic staff Unfortunately, there's no way to reverse damage to the spinal cord. But, researchers are continually working on new treatments, including prostheses and medications that may promote nerve cell regeneration or improve the function of the nerves that remain after a spinal cord injury. In the meantime, spinal cord injury treatment focuses on preventing further injury and empowering people with a spinal cord injury to return to an active and productive life. Emergency actionsUrgent medical attention is critical to minimize the effects of any head or neck trauma. So treatment for a spinal cord injury often begins at the scene of the accident. Emergency personnel typically immobilize the spine as gently and quickly as possible using a rigid neck collar and a rigid carrying board, which they'll use to transport you to the hospital. Early (acute) stages of treatmentIn the emergency room, doctors focus on: You may be sedated so that you don't move and sustain more damage while undergoing diagnostic tests for spinal cord injury. If you do have a spinal cord injury, you'll usually be admitted to the intensive care unit for treatment. You may even be transferred to a regional spine injury center that … Continue reading →

A new study has given some spinal injured patients something to be extremely thankful for this Thanksgiving. A new treatment improved their walking ability by more than 250%. The results were published online on November 27 in online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology by researchers at Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and Shepherd Center in Atlanta, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Study author Randy D. Trumbower, PT, PhD explained, About 59% of all spinal injuries are incomplete, leaving pathways that could allow the spinal cord to change in a way that allows people to walk again. Unfortunately, usually a person affected by this type of spinal injury seldom recovers the ability to walk normally. Our research proposes a promising new way for the spinal cord to make the connections needed to walk better. The study group comprised 19 individuals who had suffered spinal cord injuries located between levels C2 and T12 (the area from the neck to the lower chest). The subjects had no shortening of their joints and were able to move their ankles, knees, and hips to some degree. All were able to walk … Continue reading →

mom section Living Well Family & Relationships Education & Activities Parenting eHow Health Family Health General Family Health What Are the Treatments for Spinal Cord Injury? Nicki Howell Nicki Howell started her professional writing career in 2002, specializing in areas such as health, fitness and personal finance. She has been published at health care websites, such as HealthTree, and is a ghostwriter for a variety of small health care organizations. She earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Portland State University. According to the Mayo Clinic, spinal cord injuries involve much of the body. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and the spinal cord, and controls the majority of body functions. The spinal cord runs from the brain to the waist, and carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body. The majority of spinal cord injuries are caused by car accidents, falls or sport injuries. The prognosis of recovery depends on the extent of the damage. But many treatments are available to minimize spinal cord damage and work toward gaining back body functions. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, in clinical trials, people who were given the medication Methylprednisolone … 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, 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 the rehabilitation stage of treatment. Treatment during this … Continue reading →

From Published: November 27, 2013 4:35 PM By Serena Gordon HealthDay Reporter Breathing treatments that provide low levels of oxygen may help people with certain types of spinal cord injuries walk longer distances at faster speeds, new Canadian research indicates. After the low-oxygen treatment, people with less severe spinal cord injuries were able to walk approximately 33 feet about four seconds faster than those on a placebo treatment. They also were able to increase the distance they could walk in six minutes by about 328 feet. "The rehabilitation world after a spinal cord injury can be frustrating and limited," said study author Randy Trumbower, an assistant professor in the division of physical therapy at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. "After the first year, it's a lifelong journey to overcome their diagnosis. Someone may be able to cross the street right now, but can they do it in enough time? Or someone might be able to get to the grocery store, but do they have the endurance to shop?" BLOG: The Daily Apple | PHOTOS: Dropping LBs DATA: Explore hospital rankings | Narcotics by community WEIGH IN: Ask your fitness questions "We wanted to find a treatment that … Continue reading →

How Does the Spinal Cord Work? To understand what can happen as the result of a spinal cord injury, it helps to know the anatomy of the spinal cord and its normal functions. Spine Anatomy The soft, jelly-like spinal cord is protected by the spinal column. The spinal column is made up of 33 bones called vertebrae, each with a circular opening similar to the hole in a donut. The bones are stacked one on top of the other and the spinal cord runs through the hollow channel created by the holes in the stacked bones. The vertebrae can be organized into sections, and are named and numbered from top to bottom according to their location along the backbone: Although the hard vertebrae protect the soft spinal cord from injury most of the time, the spinal column is not all hard bone. Between the vertebrae are discs of semi-rigid cartilage, and in the narrow spaces between them are passages through which the spinal nerves exit to the rest of the body. These are places where the spinal cord is vulnerable to direct injury. The spinal cord is also organized into segments and named and numbered from top to bottom. Each … Continue reading →

A spinal cord injury usually begins with a sudden, traumatic blow to the spine that fractures or dislocates vertebrae. The damage begins at the moment of injury when displaced bone fragments, disc material, or ligaments bruise or tear into spinal cord tissue. Most injuries to the spinal cord don't completely sever it. Instead, an injury is more likely to cause fractures and compression of the vertebrae, which then crush and destroy axons -- extensions of nerve cells that carry signals up and down the spinal cord between the brain and the rest of the body. An injury to the spinal cord can damage a few, many, or almost all of these axons. Some injuries will allow almost complete recovery. Others will result in complete paralysis. Improved emergency care for people with spinal cord injuries and aggressive treatment and rehabilitation can minimize damage to the nervous system and even restore limited abilities. Respiratory complications are often an indication of the severity of spinal cord injury About one-third of those with injury to the neck area will need help with breathing and require respiratory support. The steroid drug methylprednisolone appears to reduce the damage to nerve cells if it is given within … Continue reading →