Fact-Checked: Why Trust Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves and nerve fibers in a canal in the center of the vertebrae of your spine. It extends down from the lower part of the brain to the lower back. Its purpose is to send and receive nerve signals from the brain.
Different Types Of Spinal Cord Injuries
Due to the length of the spinal cord, different types of injuries can arise based on what part of the spine the injury happened. Direct injury to the spinal cord itself or damage to the tissue and vertebrae that surround the spinal cord can cause a spinal cord injury (SCI). An SCI can either be complete or incomplete. A complete injury means there is no nerve communication, and all muscle control and feeling has been lost. An incomplete injury means that the spinal cord is still able to send some messages to the brain and people retain some feeling, function, and muscle control at the site of the injury.
Consequences Of SCIs Based On The Location Of The Injury
The spine is split into four separate sections: Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, and Sacral. Depending on which part of the spinal cord the injury takes place determines its severity.
Injuries To The Cervical Spinal Cord
The section of the spine toward the neck is where the effects of a spinal cord injury are the most severe. The cervical spine is closest to the brain, so the disruption of nerve signals will have the greatest impact. Quadriplegia is common, resulting in no sensation or function below the shoulders or neck. With major trauma to the cervical vertebrae can also entail:
- Inability to breathe, eat, or control bowels without medical assistance;
- Confined to a wheelchair, usually with mouth-operated controls; and,
- Could require 24-hour a day skilled nursing care.
Injuries To The Thoracic Spinal Cord
The thoracic spine is directly above the lumbar, and it comprises 12 vertebrae starting at around the level of the top rib. The numbered thoracic vertebrae and the respective parts of the body work as follows:
- Nerves in the T1 through T5 affect the chest, abdomen, lungs, and surrounding muscles.
- Damage to the T6 through T12 nerves may impact certain bodily functions, balance, and muscle control.
- Paraplegia is likely with a thoracic spinal cord injury, but a victim may also lack control over bowels and bladder. There can also be effects upon motor skills and dexterity with hands and fingers.
Injuries To The Lumbar Spinal Cord
This section is the lower back, a set of 5 lumbar vertebrae extending up from above the buttocks. The lumbar carries the most weight among the different regions of the spine, so the vertebrae are larger. When this part of the spine sustains trauma from an accident, there will be some loss of function in the hips and legs. A complete spinal cord injury to the lumbar region may result in paraplegia, so the victim may experience mobility problems and be unable to walk.
Injuries To The Sacral Spinal Cord
Injuries here can result in loss of bowel and bladder control, decreased perineal sensation also known as saddle anesthesia, and variable degrees of leg weakness depending on location of lesion and associated injury.
Treatment
As the degree and location of SCIs can vary extensively, treatment for them depends on where the injury happened and its severity. Treatment can range anywhere from surgery to medication paired with a splint or other stabilizing devices. SCIs are treated as a medical emergency and evaluation by a doctor should be sought as soon as possible after a suspected injury.