Spinal cord injury occurs when the spinal cord is injured or damaged, resulting in loss of function (sensation or movement). The spinal cord is vulnerable to trauma, such as that which occurs from a fall, a motor vehicle accident or a gunshot wound. Spinal cord injuries may also accompany certain diseases, such as spina bifida or polio.
The spinal cord does not necessarily need to be severed in order for loss of function to occur. Most people who suffer spinal cord injuries and survive have an intact spinal cord, but the damage caused results in significant impairment.
In order to understand spinal cord injury, it is helpful to understand the structure of the spinal cord and surrounding structures:
The spinal cord -
About 45 centimeters (18 inches) long, the spinal cord travels from the base of the neck to the level of the waist. Nerves encased in the spinal cord carry messages to and from the brain to the spinal nerves which lay in the spinal cord tract. Spinal nerves branch out from the spinal cord and carry impulses back and forth from other areas of the brain. Spinal nerves enter and exit the spinal cord at various levels, which correspond to various areas of the body. Sensory neurons carry messages from the skin and other organs to the brain regarding sensation, such as pressure and pain. Motor neurons carry messages from the brain to the body to initiate movement. The spinal cord is composed of the nerves that carry impulses from the brain to the rest of the body, therefore an injury or disease that affects the spinal cord will also affect the body's ability to move or experience certain sensations.
The vertebrae -
The spinal cord is surrounded by a column of bones that protect the spinal cord. This column of bones makes up your spinal column, or spine. As a general rule, the higher up the spine an injury occurs, the greater the loss of function. Bones in the spinal column are named according to the region in which they lay. There are eight vertebrae in the neck (cervical vertebrae, C1 to C8), twelve vertebrae in the chest region (thoracic vertebrae, T1 to T12), five vertebrae in the lower back (lumbar vertebrae, L1 to L5) and five vertebrae in the pelvic region (sacral vertebrae, S1 to S5).
Incomplete versus Complete Spinal Cord Injury -
Spinal cord injuries may be classed as either incomplete or complete. In complete spinal cord injury, there is complete loss of function below the level of the injury. Both sides of the body are affected equally. In incomplete spinal cord injury, some function is preserved below the level of the injury. With an incomplete injury, one side may be affected more than the other; there may be some sensation and some mobility. As stated previously, the higher the level of injury, the greater the loss of function and sensation. For example, injuries occurring high up in the spinal cord may impede the victim\'s ability to breathe, while injuries occurring lower in the spinal cord may cause loss of walking ability but preserve breathing function.
Quadriplegia versus Paraplegia -
Quadriplegia is a term used to describe loss of function from the shoulders down, while paraplegia refers to loss of function from the waist down. Loss of function can include bowel and bladder control, as well as loss of sexual function.
Spinal cord injury is a devastating injury that greatly impacts the survivor's life, as well as that of their loved ones. With new technology and treatment, more people are surviving spinal cord injuries and living productive lives. The extent of injury is greatly dependent on whether the spinal cord injury is complete or incomplete and at what level the spinal cord injury occurs.
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