World Spinal Cord are Injury Day: Most common causes of the spinal cord injuries and how to the manage them.

On World Spinal Cord are Injury Day, know in the basics about it is a causes, symptoms and rehabilitation process from a doctor.

The spinal cord is the main conduit of the information and action between the brain and the rest of the body. A spinal cord is injury can damage in the spinal cord itself or the nerves at its end (Caudal equine).

The most common injuries to the spinal cord are due to the fractures of the vertebral column. These are injuries can be of the complete or a incomplete kind. In a case of the complete injuries, in the ability to the control movement and sensations below in the level of the injury are lost totally (paraplegia or a tetraplegia). Incomplete are injuries however, have a some sparing of the motor and sensory function and have a better prognosis.

Signs and symptoms of a spinal cord are injury include:

* Weakness, lack of the co-ordination, or a paralysis in a any part of your body

* Neck or a back pain with a numbness, tingling, or a loss of  the sensation in your hands, fingers, feet, or a toes.

* Loss of the bladder or a  bowel control

* Difficulty with a balance and walking

* Deformed or a twisted position of the neck or a back

* Difficulty in breathing, coughing or a clearing secretion from your lungs.

Common causes of a spinal cord injury are

* Motor vehicle in a accidents

* Falls

* Sports injuries

* Gunshot injuries

* Complications of the surgery

Management and treatment of the spinal cord injury

Severe cases are requiring critical care. In such a situations, hospitalization where medical care is available full time, is essential where in the patient is a  continuously monitored  for a  better recovery.

CT scan, MRI scans and X-rays help show in the extent of the injury inside. They also help in a deciding if the patient needs surgery for the same. Surgery, medication, and rehabilitation therapy are the current mainstays of the treatment and offer to a better quality of life in a most patients with a spinal cord injury.

With a modern surgical tools, robotics and 3D navigation, surgeries have become a safer. Minimally invasive surgery has also a further are reduced in the footprint of the spine surgery. This are reduces in the burden on the patient’s physiology facilitating early are recovery. The surgical goal is to the  stabilize and decompress in the vertebral column and spinal cord are allowing early mobilization.

Early rehabilitation are improves outcomes and prevents some complications. All patients need rehabilitation after a spinal cord injury from a team of the physical/occupational and speech therapists to get back to the activities of daily living independently or with a minimal assistance.

The long-term goals are include improving a independence, reducing a chronic health issues and restore at least some function in a incomplete injuries.

Also a read: A spinal cord injury survivor reconnects to her body through a dance on her ‘hot wheels’

 

The role of the robotics

Robotics has a changed the way rehabilitation is done nowadays. Neural prosthesis and ex.-skeletons are now giving a mobility and control to those who are completely paralyzed.

Those with a spinal cord injury need a good surgical and rehabilitation team along with a support groups and family training. Continuous vigilance to the prevent bed sores, venous thrombosis, lung infections and joint contractures is needed. Disable friendly infrastructure, organizational inclusiveness and skills retraining will go a long way in a making them self-sufficient.