A spinal cord injury (SCI) refers to any injury to the spinal cord that is
caused by trauma instead of disease. Depending on where the spinal cord and
nerve roots are damaged, the symptoms can vary widely, from pain to paralysis to
incontinence. Spinal cord injuries are described at various levels of
“incomplete”, which can vary from having no effect on the patient to a
“complete” injury which means a total loss of function.
Treatment of spinal cord injuries starts with restraining the spine and
controlling inflammation to prevent further damage. The actual treatment can
vary widely depending on the location and extent of the injury. In many cases,
spinal cord injuries require substantial physical therapy and rehabilitation,
especially if the patient’s injury interferes with activities of daily life.
Spinal cord injuries have many causes, but are typically associated with
major trauma from motor vehicle accidents,falls, sports injuries, and violence.
Research into treatments for spinal cord injuries includes controlled
hypothermiaand stem cells, though many treatments have not been studied
thoroughly and very little new research has been implemented in standard
care.
没有评论:
发表评论