When the spinal cord gets damaged, severe difficulty in the way certain functions of your body work may occur. These are collectively known as spinal cord injuries.
This condition was once associated with quadriplegia or paraplegia, but the types of spinal cord injuries have shown that other areas can be injured in the spinal column.
Read on to learn about the different types of spinal cord injuries that exist today.
Incomplete Spine Cord Injury
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury refers to a condition in which the spinal cord is partially injured, leaving a certain part of the body below the injury site without full or controlled movement or sensation. Depending on the location, the symptoms of an incomplete spinal cord injury can vary greatly. Here is the list of incomplete spine cord injuries:
Cervical Injuries
Cervical injuries are a type of incomplete spinal cord injury that affects the neck area. They range in severity and can result in varying degrees of motor and sensory deficits. The most serious type of cervical injury is complete or total cord intoxication or impaction, which may cause paralysis or death.
Thoracic and Lumbar injuries
Thoracic injuries often involve a higher level of injury compared to the lumbar area and usually involve a greater loss of physical and sensory function. Lumbar injuries occur near the lower region of the vertebra and can involve damage to the spinal cord, the spine, and other structures in the lumbar area.
Diplegia
Diplegia is a type of spinal cord injury (SCI) that results in paralysis of both legs and the trunk. It is typically caused by damage to the lower portions of the spinal cord at the Thoracic, Lumbar, and Sacral levels.
Complete Spine Cord Injury
A complete spinal cord injury is the most severe type of spinal cord injury, causing complete paralysis and loss of tactile sensation along its targeted area. Check the different kinds of complete spine cord injuries below:
Tetraplegia
It is the most serious of spinal cord injuries and affects the body, the arms, and the legs. It is caused when damage to the cervical region of the spinal cord, located in the neck, disrupts all information traveling between the brain and the rest of the body.
Paraplegia
Paraplegia may result in loss of sensation and control of the lower limbs, bladder, and bowel function. Depending on the severity and level of injury, paraplegia may also cause difficulty in breathing. In some cases, sufferers may require a ventilator to breathe once the swelling around the spinal cord subsides.
Triplegia
The injury typically results from trauma to the spinal cord, such as automobile accidents, falls, sports injuries, or gunshot wounds. A triplegia injury occurs when there is damage to parts of the spinal cord treatment, including the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar sections.
Identifying your condition is important to ensure you are getting the right treatment. So keep in mind to do your research on various treatments, like what is a foraminotomy surgery, for example. This might be the best option for your health and well-being!
Read More About Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries range from minor to major, with varying symptoms and resulting deficits in function and sensation. Knowing the different types of spinal cord injuries is important to ensure that proper medical care is provided as soon as possible.
If you experience or observe signs of a spinal cord injury, don’t wait- seek medical attention immediately.
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