Q: What is meant by spinal cord injury?
A: Spinal cord injury is the general term used to describe damage to the spinal cord. Typically, the injury is caused by broken bones in the neck or back pressing on the spinal cord.
Q: What causes spinal cord injury?
A: Spinal cord injury is most often the result of some sort of trauma, most commonly car accidents, falls, violence or sports injuries. However, it can also result from infection of the spinal cord and certain medical conditions, including multiple sclerosis and spina bifida.
Q: What are the consequences of spinal cord injury?
A: The consequences of spinal cord injury depend on the extent of damage and on the position of the injury. If the injury occurs high up in the spine, the effects are likely to be more severe than if it occurs towards the bottom of the spine. A complete spinal cord injury results in a complete and usually permanent loss of voluntary movement or sensation below the neurological site of injury. If the injury is incomplete, however, some sensation is likely to remain below the neurological site of injury.
In addition to loss of movement and sensation, people with a spinal cord injury may experience breathing difficulties, pain, loss of control of body temperature, and bladder and bowel problems. Men may experience some degree of erectile dysfunction because the ability to achieve an erection is controlled by the nervous system.
Q: Is spinal cord injury permanent?
A: Although most spinal cord injuries are permanent, it is often possible to achieve some degree of improvement through physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Also, various methods are available to help people with spinal cord injury live as full and active a life as possible by managing complications such as loss of bladder, bowel, or sexual control.
Q: How is spinal cord injury treated?
A: Spinal cord injury is treated differently depending on the cause and degree of damage. If the injury is a result of an accident, the first stage of treatment will involve treating any other life-threatening injuries before taking the injured person to a local Accident and Emergency unit. The person should be transported on a spinal board to keep the spine in a straight position. A high dose of steroids may be given to reduce swelling because any swelling may cause further damage.
Once stabilised, patients are referred to a regional spinal cord injury centre for further treatment. They are generally put in ‘traction’ to stabilise and correct the position of the spine. Some people will also need to undergo surgery. In the longer term, most people with a spinal cord injury require rehabilitation and physiotherapy to help improve their mobility and ability to perform daily tasks. They should also receive guidance on how to manage complications such as bowel and bladder problems. The length of stay in hospital varies greatly – ranging from weeks to months depending on the severity of the injury and degree of functional disability. The majority of people are, however, eventually able to return home.
Q: How common is spinal cord injury?
A: The figures differ from country to country. In the United States, about 450,000 people are living with spinal cord injury – that’s one in 670 people – and there are approximately 11,000 new cases each year (one in 30,000 people). In the UK, it is estimated that there are 40,000 people living with spinal cord injury, and that a further 1,000 people experience a spinal cord injury each year.
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