How Does Spinal Cord Injury Affect the Body?

How Spinal Cord Injury Affects the Body Explanation by Dr. Ali Nemati (Neurosurgeon): • The severity of a spinal cord injury directly affects the loss of movement and sensation in the body. • Injury to the spinal cord in the vertebral column can cause paraplegia, affecting movement and sensation in the legs and possibly some abdominal muscles. • Injury to the cervical spinal cord can lead to tetraplegia, impacting movement and sensation throughout the body, as well as some chest and abdominal muscles. • The degree of loss of movement and sensation varies among individuals, even with similar injury locations. Causes of Spinal Cord Injury: 1. Traumatic injury: Sudden impact or physical damage to the spine, including fracture, crushing, dislocation, or pressure on vertebrae, or injuries from gunshots or stabbing. 2. Secondary injury: Due to bleeding, swelling, inflammation, or fluid accumulation in and around the spinal cord days or weeks after the primary injury. 3. Non-traumatic injury: Caused by conditions such as arthritis, cancer, inflammation, infection, or spinal disc degeneration. Signs and Symptoms: • Loss of motor function • Loss or alteration of sensation, including the ability to feel heat, cold, and touch • Loss of bladder and bowel control • Hyperactive reflexes or excessive muscle spasms • Changes in sexual function, arousal, and fertility • Pain or severe fatigue due to nerve fiber damage in the spinal cord • Difficulty breathing, coughing, or clearing lung secretions