Paralysis and Spinal Cord Injury
Paralysis refers to the complete loss of muscle function in one or more areas of the body. Most cases of paralysis are caused by direct injury to the spinal cord and the central nervous system.
Nerves that control much of the body's function use the spinal cord as a sort of pathway, sending messages from the brain to various muscle systems. Different segments of the spinal cord control different muscle functions and sensory skills. So damage to lower segments of the spine could result in paralysis of the legs, while damage to upper segments of the spine can also result in paralysis of the arms.
Traumatic spinal cord injuries that result in paralysis include:
Paralysis can be a temporary or permanent state. The extent of the nerve damage and the placement of the lesion (injury) are among factors that determine if the condition is permanent.
In cases of paralysis through spinal cord injury trauma, doctors often work seek to repair the immediate damage and to preserve as much function as possible in the nerves. Other types of treatment will differ depending on the type of paralysis that is diagnosed.