Neck Injury : Spinal Cord Injury

The spinal cord is a fibrous structure, which is housed in the bony confines of the spinal column. Spinal cord injury occurs almost exclusively as the result of major trauma. Motor vehicle accidents, diving injuries, falls, and gunshot wounds make up a large portion of these incidents. Review the neck injury: (general) section for important information concerning spinal cord injury. The spinal cord is protected by the bone structure, known as vertebrae. The vertebrae are "stacked" on top of one another and fastened by ligaments. Muscles overlay this framework and provide dynamic structural support. Common symptoms of spinal cord injury range from numbness, tingling, or weakness in an extremity, to total inability to move (paralysis). Severe spinal cord injury can result in respiratory arrest, particularly when the cord damage is "high up" toward the neck. The "higher up" the cord damage, the more it will involve ALL the extremities and interfere with normal bodily functions, such as blood pressure regulation and breathing. Neurologic shock, or severe lowering of the blood pressure, occasionally occurs and is a common cause of death in patients with these injuries. Evaluation of these injuries include a physical examination to discover the extent of neurologic damage. Spine x-rays disclose the majority of fractures. With spinal cord injury, a fracture is usually present, but not in all cases. CT-scanning or magnetic resonance scanning can reveal spinal cord contusion and the spatial relationship between the bone fracture fragments and the spinal cord.

Treatment involves rigid immobilization. Surgery will be required in cases where decompression of the cord can be accomplished through the removal of fracture fragments, or hematomas. A stabilization procedure (surgical fixation) will be necessary in some cases. Medications are given to reduce spinal cord swelling. Blood pressure and respiratory support are crucial in these patients. Assisted mechanical ventilation is necessary in those with higher cord injuries. The Neurosurgeon is the expert in the management of these cases.


12 Hip Dislocation
12 Hip Fracture
12 Insect Stings and Spider Bites
12 Human and Animal Bites
12 Shoulder Injury Fracture
12 Toxic Inhalations and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
12 Facial Injury Jaw Fracture and Dislocation
12 Kidney Injury
12 Knee Injury General Considerations
12 Knee Injury Contusion
12 Knee Injury Fracture
12 Knee Injury Sprain
12 Stab Wounds
12 Leg Injury Fractures and Contusions
12 Leg Injury Shin Splints
12 Lightning Injury
12 Oral and Tongue Injuries
12 Nasal Fracture or Contusion
12 Neck Injury General Considerations
12 Neck Injury Fracture
12 Neck Injury Spinal Cord Injury
12 Pelvic Bone Fracture
12 Puncture Wounds
12 Chest Injury Rib Fracture
12 Back Injury Sacrococcygeal Injury
12 Scorpion Bites
12 Abrasion Injuries
12 Shoulder Injury Clavicle Fracture
12 Shoulder Injury Strains and Sprains
12 Snakebite
12 Neck Injury Spinal Cord Injury
12 Abdominal Injury Ruptured Spleen
12 Foot Injury Toe Fracture and Sprain
12 Vaginal or Vulvar Injury
12 Drowning and Near Drowning

INJURIES

Abdominal Injury
Abdominal Injury: Contusion
Abrasion
Amputations
Animal Bites
Ankle Fracture
Ankle Injury
Ankle Injury: Contusion
Ankle Sprain
Back Injury
Back Injury : Sacrococcygeal Injury
Back Strain
Burns
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Chemical Burns
Chest Injuries
Chest Injury: Aortic Rupture
Chest Injury: Hemothorax
Chest Injury: Myocardial Contusion
Chest Injury : Pneumothorax
Chest Injury: Pulmonary Contusion
Chronic Back Pain
Clavicle Fracture
Compression Fractures
Contusions
Decompression Sickness
Disc Disease
Gunshot Wounds
Hand Injury: Fingertip Amputations
Head Injury
Liver Injury
Marine Stings
Muscle Strains
Rib Fracture
Ruptured Spleen
Shoulder Injury: A-C Separation
Spider Bites
Spinal Cord Injury
Sternum Fracture
Testicular Injury
Wrist Injury
hi Scuba Related Injuries
i Hand Injury Finger Amputaion
de Lecerations
de Cold Injury and Hypothermia
dd Dental Injury
xs Facial Injury
sdf Neck Injury
e Shoulder Injury Dislocation
e Ear Injury
ed Elbow Injury
de Elbow Injury Fracture
dfe Elbow Injury Nursemaids
ee Electrical Injury
de Eye Injury
ed Facial Injury General Considerations
fr Facial Injury Contusion
ed Hand Injury Finger Sprains
ded Fingernail and Toenail Injuries
dd Hand Injury Fractures
23 Head Injury Skull Fracture and Concussion
44 Chest Injury Myocardial Contusion
fde Heat Illness
ed Hest Injury Hemothorax
y Back Injury Disc Disease
;l High Altitude Illness


Become a regular visitor at our "Health Care Blog" - Here are the latest blog entries:


 

Home © health-care-information.org. All rights reserved.

Health Care BLOG || Your Feedback & Suggestions || Health Directory

 

Disclaimer: Health-Care-Information.org is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional medical services. Any medical or other decisions should be made in consultation with your qualified health care provider. We will not be liable for any complications, injuries or other medical accidents arising from or in connection with the use of or reliance upon any information on this web site.