The Aftermath & Diagnosis of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Effects of Spinal Cord Injury

The emotional and physical resulting from a spinal cord injury (SCI) can be overwhelming. The loss of spinal cord function can cause a loss in both motor and sensory functions and have an effect on things like autonomous activities, like breathing and thought-driven actions such as driving.

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA), not all spinal cord injuries are the result of motor vehicle accidents (42%), violence (24%), falling (22%), or sports (8%). Occasionally, diseases such as polio can cause spinal cord injury.

SCI injuries are usually described with the following terms:

• Paraparesis: A small degree of paralysis that affects the lower extremities
• Paraplegia: The complete paralysis of legs and often includes the lower trunk. The arms are unaffected.
• Quadriparesis: Partial paralysis of both arms and legs
• Quadriplegia/ Tetraplegia: Complete paralysis of both arms and legs

For function to be lost the spinal cord does not have to be severed and most people suffering from a spinal cord injury experience dysfunction with the cord still intact. At the onset of injury and for a time period following the injury, the spinal cord swells. The loss of function occurs below the level of the injury and can be temporary or permanent. A lot depends on the severity of the injury.

Spinal cord injuries usually fall into one of the following categories:

• Spinal cord bruising or contusions 
• Compression injuries that place pressure on the cord
• Lacerations or tearing
• Central Cord Syndrome
• Completely severed cord (rare)

The chart below represents the area affected by spinal cord injuries according to their spinal levels:

Symptoms include loss of motor function, sensation or proprioception, the unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation arising from stimuli within your body. The nerves accountable for these functions transmit their messages through our muscles, tendons, joints and other organs.

Destruction of these sensory nerve fibers can lead to loss of your sense of touch, pressure, and temperature. Reflexes may become overstated and bladder and bowel control may be lost, even the ability to breath normally can become compromised.

Diagnosis of Spinal Cord Injuries

When spinal cord injuries such as a spinal fracture are suspected, immediate medical attention is necessary. SCI is usually first diagnosed when a patient shows a loss of function below the level of injury.

Initial evaluation includes x-rays, a CT scan, and perhaps a MRI and myelogram. Plain radiographs can demonstrate fractures. CT scans and MRI’s are good for evaluating the spinal column’s soft tissues. Myelogram’s are performed to spot and assess spinal cord lesions caused by trauma or disease.

The neurologic evaluation assesses the patient's symptoms, which may comprise of loss of motor or sensory function. Other neurologic symptoms may include pain, numbness, abnormal burning or tingling, muscle spasms, weakness, and bowel/bladder changes.

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs with an annual incidence of 12,000 new cases per year in the United States and Canada alone. Accurate information regarding the anatomy, physiology and consequences of these injuries is of fundamental importance to the patient, family, legal and health care professional.

We hope the spinal cord injury resources and legal information provided on our website can help you live a healthier, happier, and more satisfying lifestyle.

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