What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury occurs when trauma damages the spinal cord, interrupting communication between the brain and parts of the body below the injury. Depending on the injury, a person may experience changes in movement, sensation, breathing, bladder or bowel function, and independence.
Not every injury involving the back or spine is a spinal cord injury. Vertebral fractures, disc injuries, nerve injuries, and soft-tissue injuries can all be serious, but they affect different structures and may involve different medical issues. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke provides additional information about spinal cord injuries and their effects.
Complete and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
A complete spinal cord injury involves a total loss of sensory and motor function below the level of the injury. An incomplete spinal cord injury means some sensory or motor function remains below the injured area.
The effects of either type of injury vary. A person’s function and prognosis can depend on the injury’s location, completeness, severity, treatment, and individual circumstances. Treating medical professionals are best positioned to discuss prognosis and recovery.
Spinal Cord Injuries vs. Vertebral Fractures and Disc Injuries
The vertebrae are the bones that protect the spinal cord, while discs cushion the spaces between those bones. A fracture, dislocation, or disc injury may cause serious pain, mobility problems, or other limitations. In some cases, these injuries can also place pressure on or damage the spinal cord.
However, a vertebral fracture or disc injury isn’t automatically a spinal cord injury. Medical records and diagnostic testing can help identify the structures affected and the full extent of the injury.
Nerve-Root and Cauda Equina Injuries
Nerve-root injuries affect the nerves that branch from the spinal cord. Cauda equina injuries affect a bundle of nerves at the lower end of the spinal canal. These injuries differ from damage to the spinal cord itself, but they can still cause serious pain, weakness, numbness, sensory changes, and limits on daily activities.
Other Back and Neck Injuries
Other back and neck injuries may include strains, sprains, muscle spasms, tendinitis, contusions, and similar soft-tissue damage. These injuries shouldn’t be treated as equivalent to spinal cord damage, but they can still disrupt work, mobility, sleep, and daily life. When another party caused the injury, a serious back or neck injury may support a personal injury claim.
