Overview - Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord injury usually comes about as a result of a sudden or traumatic blow on the spine that either dislocates or fractures the vertebrae. The damage usually takes effect immediately when the disc material and bone fragments tear or bruise the tissues, but the spine is not severed at this time.
Most injuries are likely to cause compression and fractures to the vertebrae. This leads to the damage of axons, whose major role is to carry signals across the spine from the brain to other parts of the body. This can easily cause damage to a few or virtually all axons. One can completely recover from some of the injuries sustained, while in some cases it can lead to complete paralysis.
The damage to the nervous system can be minimized through emergency care and aggressive medical attention. This can even serve to restore some of the abilities of the affected person. One of the major manifestations of severe spinal complications is the inability to breathe. Majority of individuals with this condition are required to have respiratory support.
There are also some steroid drugs that held a great deal in reducing the damage to the nerve cells but this is if they are administered within eight hours of injury. The treatment process also incorporates rehabilitation programs that include skill building activities so as to give the patients the social and emotional support they need.
The injuries are classified as either complete or incomplete, where the latter means that the spine has the some ability to convey some messages from or to the brain. People suffering from injuries which are not severe are spared both the sensory and motor function beneath the affected area.
Complete injuries mean that there is no trace of motor or sensory below the affected area. Survivors of these injuries are likely to experience some medical complications such as bladder and bowel malfunction or chronic pain, to an extent of even developing some respiratory and cardiac problems. Having a quick recovery majorly depends on how well some of these chronic conditions are handled on a daily basis.
Both primary and secondary conditions might also occur even in the absence of spinal dislocation or fracture. Other causes might include the penetration of weapons or bullets in the spine, which might also be detrimental to the axons. The physical examination is done through testing the muscle strength, as well as checking whether the patient is sensitive to touch and whether the reflexes in the arms and legs are intact. X rays can also be used to identify the dislocation or the fracture of the vertebrae and other likely symptoms such as tumors and infections.

There have been some great advances in research in the area of spinal cord injury and doctors are optimistic that the treatment will be achievable in the future. The research is blended with other clinical research to establish some of the best physical rehabilitation techniques that will help in restoring the patient to normal functioning. The good news is that there have been some techniques that have significantly helped the patients to gain mobility within a short period of time.