Spinal Cord Injury

Over 10,000 people in the US suffer a spinal cord injury, also called SCI, each year. SCI is defined as any damage to the spinal cord that results in loss of function or mobility. Such injuries can be caused by trauma or disease and can result in temporary or permanent loss of sensation, loss of movement (paralysis), or loss of bowel or bladder control. Auto accidents are the primary cause, but violence-related accidents have been increasing steadily as a cause of SCI's. Falls and sports accidents also cause many SCI's each year.

There are two types of injury, complete and incomplete. A complete injury is one in which the victim has no sensation or voluntary motor movement on either side of the body below the level of the injury. If the victim has some feeling or partial movement, it is called an incomplete injury.

Injuries are usually defined with reference to the area of the spine affected. Nerves in the spine are defined by the area of the vertebrae. For instance, an injury to the spine in the neck area will affect the cervical vertebrae, so an injury to the nerves at the fifth cervical vertebra is called a C-5 injury. Below the neck are the thoracic vertebrae, so injuries there are defined as T-1, etc. Below these are the lumbar and sacral vertebrae.

Generally speaking, neck injuries can lead to paralysis of all limbs (quadriplegia) while thoracic injuries cause paralysis to the lower limbs only (paraplegia). Both areas have variations in the amount of dysfunction, depending on the severity of the injury. An incomplete cervical injury can leave the patient with some hand use, while a complete injury at C-4 can require the patient to be on a ventilator. Thoracic injuries can leave the arms functional but interfere with walking, bowel control, bladder control, and sexual function. Other functions that can be affected are blood pressure, body temperature and pain levels.

A spinal cord injury usually involves swelling of the spinal cord, which affects the whole body. When the swelling goes down, the patient may regain function months or years after the injury, but it is rare for all functioning to be recovered. Treatment presently consists of stabilizing any broken vertebrae, maintaining the patient, preventing movement to the injured area, and reducing swelling. There is no cure for SCI but stem cell research has shown some signs of being useful in the future.

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury that seems to have been someone else's fault, call VanDerGinst Law at 1-866-843-7367 or click here for a FREE online case evaluation. The initial consultation is free of charge. If we agree to handle your injury case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if, and when, there is a money recovery for you. In many cases a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. So please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.

• Complete vs. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury - What is the difference and how does it affect victims of a spinal cord injury?
  
• Glossary of Spine Terminology
• Spinal Cord Injury FAQ
• Spinal Cord Injury Statistics

Links on the Web

Spinal Cord Injuries Wire Comprehensive News Feed for Spinal Cord Injuries.

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:20:02 GMT High School Insider: Gridiron Heroes sustained by co-founder's resolve MySanAntonio.com ... as strong as gentleness and nothing as gentle as real strength. Canales, who co-founded the Gridiron Heroes Spinal Cord Injury Organization after his son was paralyzed in a high school football game in 2001, is a testament to the power of strength ... Click here to read this Spinal Cord Injury news article.

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:16:15 GMT Formula 1 Race Car on Sale Today! Opening Bid? $2 Market Wire ... the eBay auction blocks over the next two weeks. All proceeds from the auction go directly to the Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation. Items will be introduced in three stages to help spread out the big ticket items, and while these ... Click here to read this Spinal Cord Injury news article.

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:01:44 GMT Formula One Race Car. Opening Bid: $2 Ebay Auction to Benefit Wings for Life The Motor Sports Forum ... with the Series' current world champion, American Mike Mangold. All proceeds will benefit the Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation - and all bids start at just 2 dollars! Athletes from around the world have donated memorabilia and trophies ... Click here to read this Spinal Cord Injury news article.

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:00:26 GMT Wings For Life Charity Auction Cycle News ... with the Series' current world champion, American Mike Mangold. All proceeds will benefit the Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation - and all bids start at just 2 dollars! Athletes from around the world have donated memorabilia and trophies ... Click here to read this Spinal Cord Injury news article.

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:03:15 GMT Nicky Hayden's Helmet One Of The Items Available In Upcoming Wings For Life Online Charity Auction Roadracing World ... with the Series' current world champion, American Mike Mangold. All proceeds will benefit the Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation - " and all bids start at just 2 dollars! Athletes from around the world have donated memorabilia and ... Click here to read this Spinal Cord Injury news article.

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:26:00 GMT Cyberkinetics' Andara(TM) OFS(TM) Therapy Featured in Presentations at the AANS/CNS Meeting Business Wire ... Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) approval for the treatment of acute spinal cord injuries. " Results from each of these studies continue to support the probable benefit of the Andara OFS System for people ... Click here to read this Spinal Cord Injury news article.

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