![]() In addition, a virus or injury can cause an immune response that causes a spinal cord injury. Finally, penetrating injuries, such as those seen with gunshots, can sever or severely damage the spinal cord.įor nontraumatic incidents, patients can experience arthritis, degenerative disc disease, cancer, or infection in the CNS. Another cause may be extreme pressure on the vertebrae, which can compress and damage the nerves within the cord. First, the trauma may damage one or more physical structures, like the vertebrae, bones, ligaments, or discs. Traumatic injuries can damage the spinal cord in one of three ways. However, they may be related to long-term conditions too. Spinal cord injuries are usually the result of traumatic events. Incomplete injuries result in function remaining on one or both sides of the body because the body and brain can still communicate along intact pathways.Complete injuries result in total paralysis below the injured spinal cord on both sides of the body.The main differences between a complete and incomplete injury are seen in the type of remaining function the patient experiences. Lumbosacral injuries: Lumbosacral spinal cord injuries may result in incomplete or complete paralysis of the upper and lower extremities.Lumbar injuries: Lumbar spinal cord injuries may result in effects similar to thoracic spinal cord injuries, depending on where the injury occurred.They may result in paraplegia or paralysis of the lower body below the injury site. Thoracic injuries: Thoracic spinal cord injuries can cause partial paralysis in the legs and arms.This type of injury may result in paralysis of all four limbs, quadriplegia, or tetraplegia. Cervical injuries: Cervical spinal cord injuries are the most severe type of spinal cord injury because they affect a more extensive body area.There are four types of spinal cord injuries based on the location of the impact: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. Let's explore both of these categorizations. ![]() Types of spinal injuries can be broken down in two ways, by the level of the damage and if the injury is complete or incomplete. Healthcare providers use this scale and other diagnostic tools to determine the type and severity of the injury. This tool compares motor and sensory function severity before and after injury. The American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale categorizes the extent of a spinal cord injury. Once the patient stabilizes, care must change to address the longevity of the condition, and the care team must focus on helping the patient live a full and long life.ĭuring the acute phase, determining the severity and level of the injury is of utmost importance to providing proper medical and nursing care.ĭetermining the level of the injury drives acute care. A patient with acute spinal cord injury needs immediate care focused on diagnosing the severity of the damage. The care of the patient varies depending on the timing of the injury.
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