Spine and Back Injuries

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is defined as any damage to the spinal cord resulting in loss of function or mobility. Such injuries can result in temporary or permanent loss of sensation, movement (paralysis), or control of bodily functions. The primary causes of a spinal cord injury are vehicle crashes, violence, falls, and sports.

There are two types of spinal cord damage - complete and incomplete. A complete injury prevents sensation or voluntary motor movement on either side of the body below the location of injury. If some feeling or partial movement is retained, this is an incomplete spinal cord injury.

Other categories beyond that refer to specific areas of the spine. For example, the neck area contains the cervical vertebrae, so impairment to those nerves at the fifth cervical vertebra would be referred to as a C-5 injury. The thoracic vertebrae are located below the neck, so injuries there are called T-1, T-2, and so on. Below those are the lumbar and sacral vertebrae, and injuries in those areas are named in a similar manner.

In general, neck injuries lead to paralysis of all limbs (quadriplegia) while thoracic injuries cause paralysis to only the lower limbs (paraplegia). Injuries to both regions can result in varying amounts of dysfunction, depending on the severity of the injury. For example, incomplete cervical damage can leave a patient with some hand movement, while complete damage at C-4 may require a patient to be on a ventilator. Thoracic injuries can leave the arms functional but interfere with walking, and abdominal organ functions (bowels, bladder, etc).

In addition to the intense pain and suffering a spinal cord injury can create, a spinal cord injury can also cause significant financial burdens: costly medical bills, and, in many cases, the need for long-term care. A spinal cord injury causing paraplegia allows just forty percent of patients to return to their jobs. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord damage caused by someone else’s negligence, you should seek the counsel of an attorney experienced with spinal cord injuries, as you may be entitled to compensation.

If you believe you may have a spine or back injury case, contact us today for more information.