A spinal cord injury involves damage to the spinal cord or the nerves at the end of the spinal canal. It typically causes changes in strength, sensation, and other body functions below the site of the injury. It also may cause fractures and compression of the vertebrae, displaced bone fragments or disc material, or torn ligaments. Spinal cord injuries may be complete—meaning no sensation or voluntary movement exists below the site of the injury—or incomplete, where some sensory or motor function remains below the site. An estimated 12,000 spinal cord injuries occur every year in the United States, and more than a quarter of a million Americans live with these types of injuries.
What Are the Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injury?
Symptoms may include loss of movement; loss of or altered sensation, including the ability to feel heat, cold, or touch; pain or an intense stinging sensation; bladder or bowel dysfunction; difficulty breathing or clearing secretions from the lungs; and exaggerated reflex responses or spasms. Spinal cord injury can result in one of two types of paralysis: quadriplegia, which affects the arms, hands, trunk, legs, and pelvic organs, or paraplegia, affecting the trunk, legs, and pelvic organs.
What Are the Causes of Spinal Cord Injury?
Most spinal cord injuries occur as a result of a sudden, traumatic blow to the spine. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause, followed by falls, acts of violence (especially gunshot wounds), and sports and recreation accidents.
How Is Spinal Cord Injury Diagnosed?
A spinal cord injury is diagnosed after a neurologic examination and imaging tests—typically, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to identify the extent of bone damage and spinal cord damage, respectively. MRI is also useful for revealing blood clots, herniated discs, or other masses that could compress the spinal cord.
How Is Spinal Cord Injury Treated?
Treatment usually starts at the scene of the accident when emergency medical technicians immobilize the spine to minimize damage to the nervous system. Surgery may be performed if the spinal cord is compressed by a herniated disc, a blood clot, or something else or to stabilize the spine; In other instances, traction may be warranted to bring the spine into proper alignment. Pain medications also may be prescribed. Depending on the type and severity of the injury, electrical stimulation of nerves, using neural prosthetic devices, could restore bladder function, breathing ability, or motor skills of the arms and legs. Rehabilitation programs that combine physical therapies with skill-building activities also can make a difference in functionality.
What Research is Being Done on Spinal Cord Injury?
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke conducts and supports spinal cord research in its laboratories at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and through grants to institutions across the country. This research is aimed at finding physical rehabilitation protocols that work best to restore function and improve mobility (including walking) and discovering ways to repair injured spinal cords.
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