Spinal Cord Injury
The spinal cord regulates essential functions like movement, sensation, and vital processes such as breathing and circulation.
Running from the brain stem to the lower back, it orchestrates muscle coordination, reflexes, and systemic functions.
Any injury to this intricate system can profoundly alter an individual’s quality of life, often impairing physical and sensory functions below the injury site.
These effects are especially severe when spinal cord injuries occur suddenly or without immediate medical attention.
What is spinal cord injury?
A spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when trauma or illness disrupts the spinal cord’s ability to function properly.
This can lead to challenges with movement, sensation, or body regulation below the area of damage.
Think of the spinal cord as a vital communication highway made of nerve fibres, connecting your brain to the rest of your body.
Depending on the severity and location of the spinal injury, this connection can be partially or completely lost.
Spinal Cord Injury Types
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
With incomplete injury, some motor or sensory function remains below the injury site. Here are a few specific types:
- Anterior Cord Syndrome: Impacts movement and pain perception, but leaves other sensory functions intact.
- Central Cord Syndrome: Weakens the arms more than the legs.
- Brown-Séquard Syndrome: Affects motor function on one side of the body and sensory function on the other.
- Posterior Cord Syndrome: Reduces sensory abilities like spatial awareness.
Complete Spinal Cord Injury
In a complete injury, communication between the brain and body below the injury site is entirely severed, causing total loss of function.
- Cervical Injuries: Often result in quadriplegia, affecting all four limbs and involving the cervical spinal cord.
- Thoracic Injuries: Typically cause paraplegia, affecting the lower body.
- Lumbar and Sacral Injuries: May lead to limited movement in the legs.
Spinal Cord Injury Causes
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: These are the leading cause of SCI. Crashes involving cars, motorcycles, or pedestrians place immense force on the spine, often resulting in paralysis or sensory loss below the injury site. These are categorised as traumatic spinal cord injuries.
- Falls: Especially common among older adults, falls can cause severe spinal injuries due to age-related bone fragility.
- Sports and Recreation Activities: High-impact sports like rugby, gymnastics, or hockey, and activities like shallow-water diving, frequently lead to spinal trauma.
- Violence and Trauma: Gunshot wounds or stabbings can cause direct injury to the spinal cord, often resulting in significant spinal cord damage or paralysis.
- Medical Conditions (Non-Traumatic Causes): Chronic illnesses can also impact spinal cord function.
- Tumours: Can compress spinal nerves, impairing function.
- Infections: Conditions like meningitis or multiple sclerosis may damage nerve tissue.
- Circulation Issues: Spinal strokes can cut off blood supply, causing dysfunction. This may result in a chronic spinal cord injury that evolves over time.
Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms
- Loss of Sensation: Reduced or absent feeling below the injury heightens risks like burns or sores.
- Muscle Weakness and Spasticity: Difficulty controlling muscles, stiffness, or involuntary movements.
- Fine Motor Challenges: Tasks like writing or dressing can be more difficult, especially with cervical or thoracic injuries.
- Respiratory Issues: Damage near the cervical spine, particularly between the C3–C5 vertebrae, may affect breathing and require ventilatory support.
- Bowel and Bladder Dysfunction: Nerve signal disruptions often require specialised management.
- Paralysis: Quadriplegia for cervical injuries and paraplegia for lower spine injuries.
How to treat spinal cord injury?
Treatment begins with immediate medical attention to stabilise the injury and prevent further damage.
Prompt action is critical, especially in cases of suspected spinal cord injury, to avoid a secondary injury from inflammation or swelling.
Long-term management focuses on restoring function, independence, and quality of life.
Spinal Cord Injury Treatment
Medications play a key role in addressing both short-term and ongoing challenges.
- Corticosteroids: May reduce swelling in the early stages, though their use is debated.
- Pain Management: NSAIDs, opioids, or anticonvulsants can help manage nerve pain.
- Muscle Relaxants: Reduce stiffness and improve mobility.
- Mental Health Support: Medications can help address anxiety or depression during recovery.
- Surgery interventions help stabilise the spine and relieve nerve pressure.
- Spinal Decompression: Removes obstructions like herniated discs or blood clots.
- Spinal Fusion: Reinforces stability using hardware or bone grafts.
- Laminectomy: Reduces nerve compression by removing parts of vertebrae.
Spinal Cord Injury Exercise
- Strength Training: Improves muscle function for daily activities.
- Flexibility Exercises: Keeps joints healthy and prevents stiffness.
- Functional Rehabilitation: Focuses on relearning everyday tasks, like getting dressed or transferring between surfaces.
- Cardiovascular Fitness: Supports heart health and complements functional recovery.
Living with a Spinal Cord Injury
Adapting to life after a spinal cord injury is challenging yet achievable.
A blend of physiotherapy, assistive technology, and supportive networks enables spinal cord injury patients to regain independence and lead fulfilling lives.
For expert care, turn to Prince Court, the premier hospital in Kuala Lumpur for neurologists.
With world-class specialists, cutting-edge technology, and personalised treatment plans, we’re here to help you every step of the way.
