Spinal Injury Research Paper

Now that I have shared a brief overview of the spinal cord and some statistics about spinal cord injuries, we will look at the past research that has led to the treatments most commonly used today. In 1990, a steroid called dexamethasone was discovered in human trials to preserve some motor and sensory function if administered at high doses within 8 hours of injury. Surgery used to remove fluid, tissue, or bone fragments, or to stabilize fractured vertebrae by fusing bones or inserting hardware has also proven to be one of the most thorough measures to prevent further harm. I received both of these treatments after my accident, and they are the same that have been used for the past decade. Until recently, doctors had no way of limiting such disabilities, aside from stabilizing the cord to prevent added destruction, treating infections, and prescribing rehabilitative therapy to maximize any remaining capabilities.

Injuries to the spinal cord may be caused indirectly, as by a blow to the head or a fall; by traffic accidents, sports injuries, or violence. The consequences depend on the amount of damage the cord sustains and where the damage occurs. Although spinal injuries are only a small fraction of all injuries; accidents cause an estimated 10,000 spinal cord injuries each year. Each year, more than two million Americans suffer a

King will be talking about how dangerous football is. There will be knee cartilagae tears. I will also be talking about spine injuries. The final thing is death. Thatnis all.

Based on the neurological exam, Mr. Hendrix injury occurred primarily in the lumbar region. The Lumbar region which is located around the lower back of the body, which is also the area where Mr. Hendrix said he first felt pain immediately following the incident. The lumbar region controls most of the lower portion of the body. Lumbar 1 -3 affected his hip flexion, Lumbar 4 inhibited Mr. Hendrix’s ability to extend his knee, and Lumbar 5 affected his ability to dorsiflex his ankle. The reason that the spinal cord effects this region is due to a bundle muscle fibers being intertwined with those sections, also known as Myotome. This injury is recognized in the medical industry as Paraplegia.

While true spinal cord trauma is a devastating injury its actual incidence is extremely low. In a study that examined one million trauma victims, only 2% had true spinal cord damage and of that 2%, only 1% had neurological deficits of any kind. Moreover, there is little data to suggest that our efforts at spinal immobilization are even effective. (Santa Cruz County EMS Integration Authority, 2012, para. 2)

Symptoms for a spinal cord injury vary depending on the location of the injury. Spinal cord injury causes weakness and loss of feeling at, and below the injury. How severe symptoms are depends on whether the entire cord is severely injured or only partially injured.

The central nervous system is responsible for controlling involuntary actions such as respiratory rhythm and blinking as well as voluntary actions such as muscular movements like walking. The central nervous system is composed of neurons that send and receive chemical messages through the transmittance of neurotransmitters. The spinal cord connects the brain to the body and when the spinal cord is damaged it loses its function to communicate messages from the brain throughout the body. Depending on the location and severity of the injury different symptoms and pathologies occur. There are different ways in which the spinal cord can be injured. It is protected by the spinal column, which is also called the backbone or spine. The spinal column is composed of a chain of bones called vertebrae, which are interconnected by flexible ligaments and spinal discs. However, if the spinal cord in injured and it starts to swell it starts to create pressure because the spinal column is surrounding it. Fractured bones of the spinal column or herniated discs can also cause damage to the spinal cord. The most common type of injury to the spinal cord is spinal cord compression when it is compressed due to a force on the spinal column. All of these different types of injuries lead to cell degeneration and death of the different types of cells in the spinal cord (Badner et al.

Spinal cord injuries can occur in many different ways but are classified as any damage that causes a change in function of the spinal cord for a temporary or permanent time period. Both experiments are based on the aftermath effects of a

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disabling condition that makes the individual dependent on others for performing their living and professional activities (2,3). Typically, a wide range of such services are provided by a caregiver or family members and relatives of the injured person (1,3). The World Health Organization (WHO) defines caregiver as “A person who provides support and assistance, formal or informal, with various activities to persons with disabilities or long-term conditions, or persons who are elderly. This person may provide emotional or financial support, as well as hands-on help with different tasks. Care giving may also be done from long distance”.1

Your spine is composed of a bundle of nerves that run from your neck down to your hip area. These nerves play a vital role in transmitting information between your brain and the rest of your body. The nerves are protected by vertebrae, which are a series of individual bones with openings between them so nerves can connect to your various muscles. The bones are padded with cartilage discs that absorb shock so you can bend, twist, and jump without pain. When you're in an auto accident, a blow to the back, sudden jarring, or quick twisting movement of your spine can cause one of the nerves to become compressed. That means pressure is put on the nerve

Incomplete spinal cord injuries: Occur when the spinal cord is only partially severed and allow injured people to retain some functions.

I wrote my paper on sex and disability, primarily with spinal cord injury, also known as SCI. Each spinal cord injury is different and any damage to the spinal cord is a very complex injury and most devastating of all traumatic events. Damage to the spinal cord can occur from either a traumatic injury or from disease to the vertebral column. A person’s injury is described by its level and type, which may result in a loss of some or all of an individual’s sensation and movement. The higher the spinal cord injury is on the vertebral column, or the closer it is to the brain, thus the more affect it has on the body’s movement and what they can feel. More movement, feeling and voluntary control over the body’s system are present with a lower level of injury. People who become

According to Chiles and Cooper (1996) spinal injury should always be suspected in patients with severe systemic trauma, patients

Five criteria must be met which includes authority, information, objectivity, ease of navigation and privacy and security policies. The website used for my research was www.christopherreeve.org. The website met the five criteria. Authority was displayed in several ways. The author, Judith Lubinsky is qualified as an expert in the spinal cord injury field. Judith is responsible for web production and social media for the website. The contact information and credentials for the author was clearly stated. Information is updated daily to keep readers informed of any changes. The information posted is accurate and appropriate for the intended audience. The author provides an unbiased comprehensive review of spinal cord injuries and management. The sponsor for the website is The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. The source of funding does not have an impact on the information provided. The website provides easy navigation with reliable information, treatment options, clinical trials and ways to get involved. The website provided clear privacy and security

The limited space within the vertebrae actually plays an important roll in spinal cord injury. Once the initial injury occurs the body, as with every other part of the body, tries to protect the injured area with swelling. But the swelling occurs within the small confines of the spinal column and causes further damage to the surrounding tissue. It has only recently been discovered how much of an impact this secondary damage has. One of the areas of crucial ongoing research is on what kind of window of opportunity medicine has in treating these types of injuries and still attaining the best recovery.