A spinal cord injury involves damage to

any part of the spinal cord or the nerves

at the end of the spinal canal. This
causes permanent changes in strength,
sensation, and other body functions
below the location of the injury.

The most common causes of a spinal

cord injury include:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Falls
Acts of violence
Sports and recreation injuries
Diseases

These are some statistics from spinal

cure Australia.

Vertebrae are grouped into sections.

The higher the injury on the spinal cord,
the more dysfunction can occur:
A break in the any of the cervical
vertebrae: C3 C8 results in tetraplegia
(quadriplegia).
Break in the Thoracic vertebrae: T1-T12
or Lumbar and Sacral vertebrae L5-S3
results in paraplegia.
pThose with a complete injury, nerve
damage obstructs all signals coming
from the brain to the body below the
injury losing almost all feeling and the
ability to control movement, whereas
those with an incomplete injury have
some sensory or motor function below
injury site

A scenario involves a 21-year-old

playing NFL who was running the with
the ball and was tackled from behind.
He lost his balance and landed head
first, resulting in a fracture of the C5/C6
vertebrate, and immediate onset of
complete quadriplegia.

In the players case, the signs and

symptoms he may have include: loss of
movement in the arms and legs,
possible unconsciousness, and signs of
shock which includes: paleness and
cold, clammy skin, weak rapid pulse,
and nausea and fainting.

To manage the situation, the coach or

on-site physio, should keep the player
still and apply a neck brace, or support
if possible, and wait until medical help
arrives. They should also reassure him
to keep him calm, and prevent distress
and movement of the body.
If the player is unconscious, the
coach/on-site physio should treat him
like he has have a spinal injury, to
prevent further damage, use the
DRSABCD procedure, but be careful
when they are putting the player in
recovery position, and apply a neck
brace to minimise neck movement.
If they are not breathing and have to
perform CPR, the rescuer should not tilt
the head back, but instead move the
jaw forward.

Once the patient arrives at hospital, the

doctors first goal is to relieve any
pressure on the spinal cord. This may
involve removing portions of the
vertebrae that is fractured and are
compressing the spinal cord.
Then the second major goal is to
stabilise the spine. If the vertebrae are
weakened by a fracture, they may not
be able to support their body weight
and protect the spinal cord. A
combination of metal screws, rods and
plates may be necessary to help hold
the vertebrae together and stabilise
them until the bones heal.

After the treatment, the player would be

deemed as a complete quadriplegic,
losing all feeling in his arms, legs, and
torso, as well as basic bodily functions,
requiring 24-hour care.

There may be potential complications

related to spinal cord injuries that will
require treatment, this includes:
Bladder control as the control of
the bladder may be impaired
Bowel control as bowel movement
may be altered
Skin sensation since the skin
cannot send messages to the brain,
making them more susceptible to
pressure sores
Circulation of the body, as
circulatory changes increases risk
of developing clots or high or low
blood pressure
Respiratory control if the chest
muscles are affected it makes it
harder for them to breathe or
cough, and increases the risk of
pneumonia
Muscle tone, as they may
experience muscle spasms, or have
 soft limp muscles lacking muscle
tone
Fitness and wellbeing due weight
loss and muscular atrophy
Sexual health, as fertility and
sexual function may be affected
Pain, which includes muscle/joint or
nerve pain. Especially someone
with an incomplete injury
Depression, as coping with lifestyle
changes and living in pain is
difficult

After initial treatment and stabilisation

of the spinal cord, most of the treatment
goes towards rehabilitation. In the case
of a quadriplegic, rehabilitation and
management: physiotherapy to prevent
the muscles from atrophying, and helps
maintain range of movement, use of
ventilators or respirators in cases where
the breathing function is severely
impaired, occupational therapy to help
the patient find ways to perform daily
activities independently, the use
specialised wheelchairs, seating
systems and mattresses to prevent the
development of pressure sores, and also
counselling to improve mental health, as
lifestyle changes can cause mental
health illnesses, like depression