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Patients with spinal cord injury due to trauma tend to have other life-threatening traumatic injuries or complications of spinal cord injury such as neurogenic shock [12] that take precedence to repair of the spine. [6] Thus, spinal motion restriction should be maintained while other medical interventions are begun. [6]
Symptoms of spinal cord injury may include loss of muscle function, sensation, or autonomic function in the parts of the body served by the spinal cord below the level of the injury. Injury can occur at any level of the spinal cord and can be complete, with a total loss of sensation and muscle function at lower sacral segments, or incomplete ...
A disc herniation or spinal disc herniation is an injury to the intervertebral disc between two vertebrae, usually caused by excessive strain or trauma to the spine. It may result in back pain , pain or sensation in different parts of the body, and physical disability .
Diagnosis of a back injury begins with a physical examination and thorough medical history by health-care personnel. [8] [14] Some injuries, such as sprains and strains or herniated discs, can be diagnosed in this manner. To confirm these diagnoses, or to rule out other injuries or pathology, imaging of the injured region can be ordered.
Most types of spinal fracture confer a significant risk of spinal cord injury. After the immediate trauma, there is a risk of spinal cord injury (or worsening of an already injured spine) if the fracture is unstable , that is, likely to change alignment without internal or external fixation .
This process can take place in the emergency department or in the field by appropriately trained EMS personnel. If the patient is obtunded, i.e. has a head injury with altered sensorium , is intoxicated, or has been given potent analgesics, the cervical spine must remain immobilized until a clinical examination becomes possible.
Injuries that cause permanent disabilities, such as spinal cord injuries, can have severe effects on self-esteem. [68] [69] Disfiguring injuries can negatively affect body image, leading to a lower quality of life. Burn injuries in particular can cause dramatic changes in a person's appearance that may negatively affect body image. [70] [71] [72]
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 ]