Martin Köpp

The term spinal injury can be used to describe any injury to the spine, not necessarily resulting in injury to the spinal cord. For example, whiplash to the neck may cause temporary spinal injury. However, when the spinal cord is affected, these injuries are quite serious and the damage may be irreparable.

The term spinal injury can be used to describe any injury to the spine, not necessarily resulting in injury to the spinal cord. For example, whiplash to the neck may cause temporary spinal injury. However, when the spinal cord is affected, these injuries are quite serious and the damage may be irreparable.

Injuries to the spine can happen in a variety of ways. Some are from disease or a tumor, others are developmental. Oftentimes, the injury is traumatic in origin, from an automobile or work-related accident. There can be trauma to the vertebrae without causing injury to the spinal cord. However, care must always be taken not to move anyone with an injury to their back or neck. If moved incorrectly, spinal cord injury can occur.

Nerve signals pass through the spinal cord to and from the brain. Therefore, the results of spinal cord injury will depend on where the injury occurs. They can be categorized as either complete injuries or incomplete injuries.

Those injuries which are complete sustain loss of motor and sensory functions below the level of injury. Victims of this type of injury rarely recover ability to move themselves.

In incomplete injuries, some sensory and/or motor function is retained below the level of injury. Most people who retain some function will recover some ability to move themselves. This may or may not include the ability to walk unassisted.

Locomotion is, of course, only part of the function affected by spinal cord injury. Nerves come off the spinal column and travel to the various organs of the body so that they can perform their functions. Spinal injury will therefore affect those functions below the level of injury.

Spinal injury at the cervical level may affect breathing, for example, sometimes to the extent of respiratory aid being necessary. Other level injuries may affect function of the any of the other organs such as the urinary bladder, bowels, gall bladder and kidneys. Erectile dysfunction is a common result, as are incontinence and infections.

Spinal injuries can also result in reflex spasticity, muscle atrophy and pain. As mentioned previously, they also effect motor functions such as mobility, even to the point of quadriplegia or paraplegia.

At the initial time of the injury, there will be inflammation present. Once the inflammation is reduced, a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis and be determined. Those patients with spinal injuries which are incomplete may regain partial mobility but, even with these, complete mobility is rare.

Especially with the potential severity of spinal injury effects on the body, it is vital to be thoroughly examined following any type of accident that affects the neck and/or back. You need to be sure that there are no more serious injuries than are immediately apparent. For example, injuries to the vertebrae can cause injury to the cord if not treated.