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In addition to completeness of injury, the location of the damage on the spinal cord influences how much sexual function is retained or regained after injury. [ 19 ] [ 31 ] Injuries can occur in the cervical (neck), thoracic (back), lumbar (lower back), or sacral (pelvic) levels. [ 32 ]
An "incomplete" spinal cord injury involves preservation of motor or sensory function below the level of injury in the spinal cord. [19] To be classed as incomplete, there must be some preservation of sensation or motion in the areas innervated by S4 to S5, [ 20 ] including voluntary external anal sphincter contraction. [ 19 ]
Kimoto et al. found in 1994 that 93% of the men who had received penile implants for urinary management (a total of 51 men) reported that they were satisfied with the result of the surgery. [7] In 1996, Gross et al. reported a 92% success rate in a study done on patients with urinary problems secondary to SCI (113 patients).
Spinal cord injury research seeks new ways to cure or treat spinal cord injury in order to lessen the debilitating effects of the injury in the short or long term. There is no cure for SCI, and current treatments are mostly focused on spinal cord injury rehabilitation and management of the secondary effects of the condition. [ 1 ]
Improvement of locomotor function is one of the primary goals for people with a spinal cord injury. SCI treatments may focus on specific goals such as to restore walking or locomotion to an optimal level for the individual. The most effective way to restore locomotion is by complete repair, but techniques are not yet developed for regeneration.
Paraplegia, or paraparesis, is an impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities. The word comes from Ionic Greek (παραπληγίη) "half-stricken". [citation needed] It is usually caused by spinal cord injury or a congenital condition that affects the neural (brain) elements of the spinal canal.
Degenerative spinal disorders involve a loss of function in the spine. Pressure on the spinal cord and nerves may be associated with herniation or disc displacement. Brain degeneration also causes central nervous system diseases (i.e. Alzheimer's, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases).
An X-ray of the spinal canal following injection of a contrast material into the surrounding cerebrospinal fluid spaces will reveal displacement of the contrast material. It can show the presence of structures that can cause pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, such as herniated discs, tumors, or bone spurs. Because myelography involves the ...