What are the complication of spinal cord injury?

Circulatory control. A spinal cord injury may cause circulatory problems ranging from low blood pressure when you rise (orthostatic hypotension) to swelling of your extremities. These circulation changes may also increase your risk of developing blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis or a pulmonary embolus.

What is a T4 injury?

The muscles in your core are responsible for maintaining balance between your upper and lower body. Because a T4 spinal cord injury can result in paralysis or weakness from the chest down, individuals with this level of injury may be unable to sit upright without support or stand on their own.

What is the most common complication of spinal cord injury?

Frequent complications of cervical and high thoracic SCI are neurogenic shock, bradyarrhythmias, hypotension, ectopic beats, abnormal temperature control and disturbance of sweating, vasodilatation and autonomic dysreflexia.

What are the top 4 causes of death in spinal cord patients?

The most frequent causes of death were respiratory (29.3% of all certified causes), circulatory, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (26.7%), neoplasms (13.9%), urogenital (11.5%), digestive (5.3%) and external causes, including suicides (4.5%).

Can spinal nerve damage be repaired?

Unlike tissue in the peripheral nervous system, that in the central nervous system (the spinal cord and brain) does not repair itself effectively.

Can the spinal cord repair itself?

Unlike other parts of your body, the spinal cord does not have the ability to repair itself if it is damaged. A spinal cord injury occurs when there is damage to the spinal cord either from trauma, loss of its normal blood supply, or compression from tumor or infection.

What does the T4 vertebrae control?

The T4 vertebra has nerves controlling the gallbladder and common duct, though it does affect the lungs and bronchial tubes additionally. As a result, T4 pain symptoms can show themselves through gallbladder trouble, gallstones, and jaundice.

What are the levels of spinal injury?

A: Grade A spinal injuries are complete. B: Grade B spinal injuries are sensory-incomplete, which means the patient may have sensation in the affected area, but no motor function. C: Grade C spinal injuries are motor-incomplete, which means some motor function remains following the injury.

What are the symptoms of spinal shock?

In spinal shock, there is a transient increase in blood pressure due to the release of catecholamines. This is followed by a state of hypotension, flaccid paralysis, urinary retention, and fecal incontinence. The symptoms of spinal shock may last a few hours to several days/weeks.

How long is the acute phase of spinal cord injury?

Acute injury phase (less than 48 hours after the traumatic event) Subacute injury phase (48 hours to 14 days after) Intermediate injury phase (14 days to 6 months after) Chronic injury phase (6 months after and beyond)

What is the most serious permanent effect of spinal cord trauma?

One of the most serious injuries a person can sustain is a spinal cord injury. This type of physical trauma can result in paraplegia, an inability to move the lower part of the body, or quadriplegia, which is the inability to move the body at all.

Does a spinal cord injury shorten your life?

Life expectancy depends on the severity of the injury, where on the spine the injury occurs and age. Life expectancy after injury ranges from 1.5 years for a ventilator-dependent patient older than 60 to 52.6 years for a 20-year-old patient with preserved motor function.

What are the effects of spinal cord injury?

Any spinal cord injury (SCI) may result in a tremendous loss to the patient’s quality of life. They may also suffer from permanent pain, weakness, and changes in sensation both at the site of the injury and to any part of the body connected to the spinal cord. Severe SCI’s may even result in partial or total paralysis.

What are the symptoms of a spinal injury?

Emergency signs and symptoms. Emergency signs and symptoms of a spinal cord injury after an accident may include: Extreme back pain or pressure in your neck, head or back. Weakness, incoordination or paralysis in any part of your body.

What is the spinal cord Association?

The Spinal Cord Injury Association of Illinois (a chapter of the United Spinal Association) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing information and support resources for people paralyzed by trauma and medical conditions, family members, and health care and related professionals that serve the SCI community.