The most common cause of a spinal cord injury is a motor vehicle accident. Other common causes of spinal cord injuries include deliberate acts of violence (such as a stabbing or shooting), falls and sports-related injuries.

The effects of SCI depend on the type of injury and the level of the injury. SCI can be divided into two types of injury - complete and incomplete. A complete injury means that there is no function below the level of the injury; no sensation and no voluntary movement. Both sides of the body are equally affected. An incomplete injury means that there is some functioning below the primary level of the injury.

Approximately 450,000 people live with SCI in the US. There are about 10,000 new SCI's every year; the majority of them (82%) involve males between the ages of 16-30. These injuries result from motor vehicle accidents (36%), violence (28.9%), or falls (21.2%).Quadriplegia is slightly more common than paraplegia.

Currently there is no cure for SCI. There are researchers attacking this problem, and there have been many advances in the lab (see research updates ). Many of the most exciting advances have resulted in a decrease in damage at the time of the injury. Steroid drugs such as methylprednisolone reduce swelling, which is a common cause of secondary damage at the time of injury. The experimental drug SygenÆappears to reduce loss of function, although the mechanism is not completely understood.

Approximately 450,000 people in the United States have sustained spinal cord injuries, with more than 10,000 new cases of SCI emerging in the U.S. every year. Males account for 82 percent of all SCI's and females for 18 percent.

When a SCI occurs, there is usually swelling of the spinal cord. This may cause changes in virtually every system in the body. After days or weeks, the swelling begins to go down and people may regain some functioning. With many injuries, especially incomplete injuries, the individual may recover some functioning as late as 18 months after the injury. In very rare cases, people with SCI will regain some functioning years after the injury.

Before World War II, most people who sustained SCI died within weeks of their injury due to urinary dysfunction, respiratory infection or bedsores. With the advent of modern antibiotics, modern materials such as plastics and latex, and better procedures for dealing with the everyday issues of living with SCI, many people approach the lifespan of non-disabled individuals. Interestingly, other than level of injury, the type of rehab facility used is the greatest indicator of long-term survival.

Up until the last few years, there was the common belief that men and women with complete injuries were not capable of achieving a physiological orgasm. Instead, memories of the past, feelings of closeness and a sense of well-being were described as an “emotional orgasm” and were offered as a substitute to a physical orgasm. The research done by Marca Sipski, M.D. at Kessler Rehabilitation Center and at the University of Miami has clearly demonstrated otherwise.

Currently, there is no cure for spinal cord injuries. However, ongoing research to test surgical and drug therapies are progressing more rapidly than ever before. Therapeutic techniques, nerve cell transplantation, nerve regeneration, decompression surgery, and complex drug therapies are all being examined as a means to overcome the effects of spinal cord injury.

If there is a fracture or dislocation of the spinal cord, surgery may be performed to decompress and stabilize the spinal cord. Some function may be returned after the surgery, but the surgery will not be able to recover all lost function from the injury. Rehabilitation is the mainstay of treatment. Rehab focuses on helping a person with a spinal cord injury gain as much independence as possible and includes exercises to restore and build muscle.

No. Wheelchairs are a tool for mobility. High C-level injuries usually require that the individual use a power wheelchair. Low C-level injuries and below usually allow the person to use a manual chair. Advantages of manual chairs are that they cost less, weigh less, disassemble into smaller pieces and are more agile. However, for the person who needs a powerchair, the independence afforded by them is worth the limitations. Some people are able to use braces and crutches for ambulation.

Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) are classified by types and levels. There are two types of SCI: complete (no voluntary movement is possible below the level of injury) and incomplete (some voluntary movement is possible). An incomplete SCI usually means there is only partial damage to the spinal cord. The level of SCI corresponds to where the injury physically took place. Generally speaking, the higher up the spinal cord the injury occurs, the greater the loss of function.

Treatment for spinal cord and back injuries usually requires a combination of strategies. Depending on the type of injury, accident victims may undergo: Medications will usually be part of any treatment. The accident lawyers at Stephens and Holman will make it their goal to get you a substantial settlement so your family can pay for all current and future treatments without worry.

Depending on the anatomical level of the spinal cord injury and the nature of the insult to the cord itself the consequences could be a relatively mild weakness or as severe as paraplegia or quadriplegia. Sometimes the cord is totally severed. At other times it sustains a partial injury.

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function, such as mobility or feeling. The spinal cord does not have to be severed in order for a loss of functioning to occur. In fact, most people with SCI have an intact spinal cord, but damage to it has resulted in loss of functioning.

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems: A diffuse system of nerves that control involuntary functions such as blood pressure and temperature regulation. Within the Central Nervous System, the spinal cord is the major nerve bundle that carries impulses to and from the brain to the rest of the body. It is surrounded by rings of bone called vertebra. Vertebra constitute the spinal column (back bones).

It is not always evident that a person has a SCI, especially if it is caused by the onset of an illness or growth of a tumor. Symptoms may include weakness, poor coordination, numbness or tingling, loss of sensation, loss of bowel or bladder control, paralysis and pain. An attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf and seek recovery for several types of damages, including for pain and suffering, lost past wages, lost future earning capacity, current and future medical expenses, among others.

Anyone who suffers a spinal cord injury as the result of the reckless or negligent actions of another party may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Whether you have sustained a spinal cord injury in a motor vehicle accident, construction accident, or as the result of a defective or unsafe product, you can bring a claim against the responsible party (or parties).

The symptoms of a spinal cord injury generally depend on two factors: the location of the injury and the severity of the injury. When a spinal cord injury occurs higher on the spinal column, the victim suffers more extensive paralysis. A victim with a "partial" spinal cord injury may retain some sensation or motor function below the affected area. "Complete" spinal cord injuries are defined by complete loss of motor function and sensation below the affected area.

Dorsal column stimulators, also called spinal cord stimulators, are useful to treat otherwise intractable pain syndromes. With the patient awake, the electrodes are placed on the dura - the covering of the spinal cord. Current is passed through the electrodes. With careful positioning of the electrodes using feedback from the patient, the pain signals can be disrupted. The patient reports a buzzing sensation over the portion of the body innervated by the spinal cord track being stimulated.

The spinal cord is about 18 inches long and extends from the base of the brain to about the waist. The spinal cord carries nerve impulses to and from the brain to the rest of the body. The spinal cord is surrounded by rings of bone called vertebrae. These bones constitute the spinal column. The vertebra are named according to their location. There are seven cervical vertebrae (neck), twelve thoracic (chest), five lumbar (waist), and five sacral (buttocks).

The most common causes of spinal cord injuries are motor vehicle accidents, followed by falls, acts of violence and sporting accidents. Medical malpractice, such as improper epidural injection, is also a cause of significant spinal cord injury.

Currently there are no proven cures for SCI, although many persons show some improvement of nerve function during the first year after injury. However, innovative research efforts on nerve regeneration and cell transplantation are growing. Active participation in rehabilitation activities helps to maximize functional skills and avoid complications, while waiting to benefit from future research.