Spinal Cord Injury FAQs
2. How spinal cord injuries be treated?
3. Is there an established survival rate for spinal cord injury victims?
4. Where can I find reliable information about the spinal cord and injuries?
5. What long-term rehabilitation is needed for spinal cord injuries?
6. What are the different types of spinal cord injuries?
7. What is my a fracture L5?
8. My mother died after a car accident causing spinal chord injury. Can the family file a lawsuit for this?
1. Who is likely to be the
victim of a spinal cord injury?
More than 10,000 United States citizens per year are
victims of spinal cord injuries. Those with great
chances of being a victim are males between the ages
of 19 and 50. Anyone who drives or rides in a
vehicle, works near machinery or with lifting, plays
sports, or walks on an unsafe surface is at risk for
a spinal chord injury.
2. How spinal cord injuries be
treated?
Most medical treatment for spinal cord injuries
relies on relieving pain, spasm, and stress to the
site, and allowing the body to regenerate as much as
possible. Presently, there is no cure for spinal
cord injuries. Research is progressing into nerve
cell transplantation, nerve regeneration, and
decompression surgery, as well as drug therapies.
3. Is there an established
survival rate for spinal cord injury victims?
About 85 % of the victims of spinal chord injury,
who survive the first 24 hours, are counted as
survivors.
4. Where can I find reliable
information about the spinal cord and injuries?
The National Spinal Cord Injury Association Web site
is at http://www.spinalcord.org
The American Paralysis Association has an
informative Web site at http://www.apacure.com
The National Library of Medicine Website: http://www.nlm.nih.gov
5. What long-term
rehabilitation is needed for spinal cord injuries?
It is important to have a urological assessment
yearly to make sure your kidneys and bladder remain
healthy and to safely manage urinary track
infections. It is also important to check your skin
daily to prevent breakdown and contact your rehab
doctor if you begin to develop any sores. A spinal
cord injury can make you more prone to upper
respiratory infection and pneumonia. Most rehab
doctors will recommend flu shots and vaccine against
pneumonia.
6. What are the different
types of spinal cord injuries?
The type of spinal cord injury is classified by the
doctor as:
- Complete - when the nerve damage obstructs every signal coming from the brain to body parts below the injury.
- Incomplete - when only some of the signals are obstructed. In an incomplete injury, the amount and type of message that can pass between the brain and parts of the body will depend on how many nerves have not been damaged.
- Paraplegia - when a person has lost feeling and is not able to move the lower parts of the body.
- Tetraplegia (formally called quadriplegia) – when a person has lost movement and feeling in both the upper and lower parts of the body.
7. What is my a fracture L5?
It is a vertebral fracture. Vertebral names describe
the location of the injury. There are Cervical,
Thoracic, Lumbar and Sacral areas. This fracture is
in the 5th vertebral bone in the Lumbar portion of
the back or spinal column.
8. My mother died after a car
accident causing spinal chord injury. Can the family
file a lawsuit for this?
Yes. If your mother was the victim of an accident
caused by the negligence of someone else, your
family or estate may file a Wrongful Death lawsuit
on the behalf of her estate. Please contact
an attorney at Oshman & Mirisola, LLP to discuss
your specific case.