Spinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord. It may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from damage to surrounding bones, soft tissues, and blood vessels.
Spinal cord trauma can be caused by any number of injuries to the spine. They can result from motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries (particularly diving into shallow water), industrial accidents, gunshot wounds, assault, and others.
A minor injury can cause spinal cord trauma if the spine is weakened (such as from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis) or if the spinal canal protecting the spinal cord has become too narrow (spinal stenosis) due to the normal aging process.
Direct injury, such as cuts, can occur to the spinal cord, particularly if the bones or the disks have been damaged. Fragments of bone (from fractured vertebrae, for example) or fragments of metal (such as from a traffic accident) can cut or damage the spinal cord.
Direct damage can also occur if the spinal cord is pulled, pressed sideways, or compressed. This may occur if the head, neck, or back are twisted abnormally during an accident or injury.
Bleeding, fluid accumulation, and swelling can occur inside the spinal cord or outside the spinal cord (but within the spinal canal). The accumulation of blood or fluid can compress the spinal cord and damage it.
Most spinal cord trauma occurs to young, healthy individuals. Males between ages 15 and 35 are most commonly affected. The death rate tends to be higher in young children with spinal injuries.
Risk factors include participating in risky physical activities, not wearing protective gear during work or play, or diving into shallow water.
Head injury (5 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A head injury is any trauma that leads to injury of the scalp, skull, or brain. The injuries can range from a minor bump on the skull to serious brain injury. Head injury is classified as either closed or open (penetrating. A closed head injury means you received a hard blow to the head from striking an object; An open, or penetrating, head injury means you were hit with an object that broke the skull and entered the brain. This usually happens when you move at high speed, such as going through the windshield during a car accident. It can also happen from a gunshot to the head. There are several types of brain injuries. Two common types of head injuries are: Concussion, the most common type of traumatic brain injury; Contusion, which is a bruise on the brain. See also: Subarachnoid hemorrhage; Subdural hematoma. Reviewer: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/08/2007
Facial paralysis (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Facial paralysis is the total loss of voluntary muscle movement of one side of the face. Reviewer: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 03/05/2007
Bell's palsy (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Bell's palsy is a temporary form of facial paralysis. It results from damage to the nerve that controls movement of the muscles in the face. Reviewer: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 09/10/2006
Acoustic trauma (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Acoustic trauma is injury to the hearing mechanisms within the inner ear, caused by excessively loud noise. Reviewer: Alden J. Pearl, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/20/2006
Print
