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Spinal cord trauma   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Spinal cord compression; Spinal cord injury; Compression of spinal cord

Symptoms

Symptoms vary somewhat depending on the location of the injury.

Lumbar injuries:

Note: It affects all muscles below the injury, usually from the chest down (paraplegia).

Cervical injuries:
  • all the symptoms of lumbar injury, plus
  • weakness, paralysis, numbness includes the arms and hands (quadriplegia)
  • breathing difficulties (from paralysis of the breathing muscles)
Partial injuries are uncommon. If only one side of the spinal cord is injured, paralysis may occur on only one side of the body although sensation changes may occur on either or both sides.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

Signs and Tests

Symptoms may have developed immediately after injury or may occur gradually because of fluid accumulation around the spinal cord or edema (swelling) within the spinal cord itself. Spinal cord injury is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention to minimize the long-term effects.

A neurologic examination indicates the level of the spinal cord injury if the location is not immediately evident. The reflexes may be abnormal or may be absent in affected areas of the body. There may be some recovery of reflexes after swelling has subsided. Muscle spasticity is common.

  • Spine X-rays will show fracture or damage to the bones of the spine.
  • A CT scan or MRI of the spine may pinpoint the location and extent of spinal cord trauma and demonstrate any compressive lesions like blood clots (hematomas).
  • Rarely a myelogram (an X-ray of the spine after injection of dye) may be recommended.

Ency. home > Disease > S > Spinal cord trauma

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