Back Injury : Spinal Cord Injury

This represents an emergency requiring IMMEDIATE medical attention. Spinal cord injury occurs almost exclusively as the result of serious back injuries where significant force has been applied to the spinal column. In our society, motor vehicle accidents, falls, gunshot wounds, and industrial accidents account for the majority of these injuries.

The spinal cord is protected by bony structure known as vertebrae. The vertebrae are "stacked" in a column and stabilized by fibrous strands called ligaments. The muscles also serve as a support structure, protecting the spinal column from force. Spinal cord injury can occur whenever torsion placed on the cord itself. This often appears fractures of the vertebra or in major ligament disruptions, causing abnormal motion of the vertebrae in relation to one another.

Common symptoms of spinal cord injury include back pain at the point of the injury, with neurologic symptoms occurring below that particular area (leg numbness, weakness or tingling to the lower extremities).

Evaluation will include: examination for neurologic deficit. Spine x-rays will be taken to identify the possibility of fractures or malalignment of the vertebrae. Magnetic resonance scanning can aid in identifying areas of cord injury.

Hospitalization is mandatory and management by a Neurosurgeon is necessary. Prognosis can be quite variable and is based on the extent of cord damage.

Accurately predicting the extent of the injuries long-term disabling effects can be difficult. Rehabilitation (physical and occupational therapy) play a major role in the outcome.

Spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis (inability to move lower extremities) require constant care. Bedsores, bladder and bowel dysfunction, and infections (bladder and respiratory) are common extenuating circumstances. Treating depression is also a difficult aspect in the management of these patients.


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


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