Spinal Cord Injury FAQs

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.orgThe American Paralysis Association has an informative Web site at http://www.apacure.comThe 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 The Oshman Firm to discuss your specific case.