Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when a
traumatic event results in damage to cells within the spinal cord or severs the
nerve tracts that relay signals up and down the spinal cord.
The most common types of SCI include
contusion and compression.
Severe SCI often causes paralysis and
loss of sensation and reflex function below the point of injury.
Methods for
reducing the extent of injury and for restoring function are still limited.
Description
Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when a traumatic event results in
damage to cells within the spinal cord or severs the nerve tracts that relay
signals up and down the spinal cord. The most common types of SCI include
contusion (bruising of the spinal cord) and compression (caused by pressure on
the spinal cord).
Other
types of injuries include lacerations (severing or tearing of some nerve fibers,
such as damage caused by a gun shot wound), and central cord syndrome (specific
damage to the corticospinal tracts of the cervical region of the spinal cord).
Symptoms
Severe SCI often causes paralysis (loss of control over voluntary
movement and muscles of the body) and loss of sensation and reflex function
below the point of injury, including autonomic activity such as breathing and
other activities such as bowel and bladder control.
Other
symptoms such as pain or sensitivity to stimuli, muscle spasms, and sexual
dysfunction may develop over time. SCI patients are also prone to develop
secondary medical problems, such as bladder infections, lung infections, and bed
sores.
Prognosis
The types of disability associated with SCI vary greatly depending on
the severity of the injury, the segment of the spinal cord at which the injury
occurs, and which nerve fibers are damaged. Most people with SCI regain some
functions between a week and six months after injury, but the likelihood of
spontaneous recovery diminishes after 6 months. Rehabilitation strategies can
minimize long-term disability.
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