Spinal Cord Injuries: Understanding the Impact and Causes

The spinal cord is a long bundle of nerve tissue that is located in the spine and makes up the central nervous system, sending messages between the brain and the rest of the body.

When a spinal cord injury occurs, it can cause serious health issues and can change a person's life in dramatic ways. These injuries happen when the spinal cord gets damaged, often causing a loss of movement, feeling, and changes to other functions such as bowel, bladder, breathing and circulation. How serious the injury is depends on where and how badly the spinal cord is damaged. Some people might experience full paralysis, while others may only lose part of their ability to move or feel.

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Spinal Cord Injury Fact and Figures

• Between 253,000 and 378,000 people in the United States live with spinal cord injuries.
• Each year, about 18,000 people sustain some degree of paralysis as a result, including more than 200 new injuries in Wisconsin each year.
• The average age at injury is 43 years of age, and the injuries are more prevalent in males than in females.
• Motor vehicle crashes are the most common cause of spinal cord injuries (accounting for almost 40%), followed by falls, violence (primary gunshot wounds) and sports injuries.

Causes of Spinal Cord Injury

Most of the time, spinal cord injuries happen from trauma. Traumatic spinal cord injury causes include:

• Car or motorcycle accidents
• Falls from a height
• Slips and trips
• Sports accidents
• Violence

Spinal cord injuries can also result from medical conditions, complications from an illness, degeneration of the spine from arthritis or certain conditions that people are born with. Non-traumatic injuries often develop gradually over time, compared to the sudden onset of traumatic injuries. Non-traumatic spinal cord injury causes include:

• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• Arthritis of the spine
• Disc degeneration
• Tumors on or near the spine
• Spina bifida
• Blockage or bleeding of the spinal cord’s blood vessels
• Infections

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are often classified by the amount of damage to the spinal cord and also where the injury occurs in the spine.

The Four Main Types of Spinal Cord Injuries 

Spinal cord injuries can happen in different parts of the spine, and the location of the injury determines how it affects the body. There are four main types of spinal cord injuries.

1. Cervical injuries (neck area) are the most serious, often leading to quadriplegia, or paralysis of both the arms and legs. These injuries can also affect breathing, which may require respiratory support.
2. Thoracic injuries (upper back) usually lead to paraplegia, which affects the legs and lower body, but often leaves the arms and hands working.
3. Lumbar injuries (lower back) usually affect the hips and legs, but may leave some movement in the upper body, which can help with mobility.
4. Sacral injuries (near the base of the spine) can affect the hips, legs, and pelvic organs, but these injuries tend to have a better recovery outlook.

Each type of injury affects the body differently, and understanding the specific type of injury helps the health care team plan treatment and rehabilitation.

Complete vs. Incomplete Injuries

Complete spinal cord injuries happen when the spinal cord is fully damaged, cutting off all communication between the brain and the body below the injury. This results in total paralysis and a loss of sensation. These injuries are very serious and require significant medical care. 

Incomplete spinal cord injuries are less severe because part of the spinal cord is still able to transmit signals. This allows some function and sensation below the injury site. People with incomplete injuries may be able to regain some movement or feeling, depending on how much of the spinal cord is still intact. Treatment and rehabilitation for incomplete injuries are more focused on improving function and helping individuals regain as much independence as possible.

Initial Symptoms and Warning Signs of a Spinal Cord Injury

When a person suffers a spinal cord injury, they may experience shock and a range of symptoms right away. These symptoms include:

• Sudden pain or pressure in the neck, back or head
• Weakness or paralysis in any part of the body
• Tingling or numbness in the limbs
• Lack of coordination and balance
• Exaggerated reflexes
• Loss of sensation - the ability to feel things like heat, cold or touch
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Difficulty breathing

Swelling around the injury can make the symptoms worse and make it harder to understand the full extent of the damage. Since the spinal cord is responsible for sending signals between the brain and the body, an injury can lead to major difficulties with movement and sensation.

If you suspect a spinal cord injury, immobilize the person immediately and call 911. Immediate medical care is crucial to stabilize the injury and prevent further damage. The quicker a person gets help, the better their chances of recovery.

How It Affects Movement and Sensation

Spinal cord injuries have a big effect on movement, sensation, and autonomic function. The spinal cord is the pathway for signals traveling from the brain to the body, and when it’s damaged, these signals can’t get through properly.

This can lead to paralysis, meaning muscles won’t respond to the brain’s commands, which makes it difficult to move.

It can also cause a loss of sensation, so the person may not be able to feel touch, temperature, or pain, which can increase the risk of other injuries.

Certain autonomic functions, like blood pressure and temperature regulation can be affected by spinal cord injury.

Our Spinal Cord Injury Program offers specialized rehabilitation programs for helping individuals with spinal cord injuries regain as much function as possible and adapt to new challenges.

Seriousness and Management of the Injury

Spinal cord injuries are serious and can change a person’s life. The severity depends on where and how badly the spinal cord is damaged.

If you or a loved one is dealing with a spinal cord injury, you may have many questions. It’s important to understand that spinal cord injuries can have a major impact on life, but with the right treatment, many people can still lead fulfilling lives. The goal is to help the person promote recovery and maximize independence.

Treatment usually involves a combination of surgery, therapy and support. Froedtert & MCW doctors, nurses, and therapists work together to create a plan that’s right for each individual. New technologies, like regenerative medicine and assistive devices, are improving the outlook for people with spinal cord injuries, giving hope for better outcomes.

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Support and Resources Available

Living with a spinal cord injury can be challenging, but there are many resources available to help. Many support organizations offer valuable resources, including information, community support and advocacy for people living with paralysis. Support groups, both online and in person, are also great ways to connect with others facing similar challenges.

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