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Symptoms & Causes

Spinal Cord Injuries

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What is a Spinal Cord Injury ?

What is a Spinal Cord Injury ?

A spinal cord injury involves damage to the soft tissue of the spinal cord itself. Acute spinal cord injury can result in a bruise (“contusion”), a partial tear, or a complete tear (“transection”) and may affect a person’s ability to feel, move, or walk.

Trauma to the spinal cord requires a visit to the emergency room for immediate care from an experienced team to ensure the best chance of a successful recovery.

Types of Spinal Cord Injury

types

Spinal cord injuries are divided into two categories:

  • Incomplete: An incomplete injury causes only some motor function loss.
  • Complete: Complete spinal cord injuries cause total loss of mobility and function.

If a spinal cord injury leads to paralysis, the paralysis can be classified as either:

  • Tetraplegia or quadriplegia: The arms, hands, hips, legs, and pelvic organs are all affected by the injury.
  • Paraplegia: This refers to paralysis of all of the trunk, lower limbs, and some organs.

Levels of Spinal Cord Injury

Levels of Spinal Cord Injury

There are four sections of the spine, and the location of where an injury occurs can determine the severity and consequences of the damage. A letter-and-number name is used to identify the area of the spine and vertebrae that was damaged.

Spinal injuries can occur in the following sections:

  • Cervical (vertebrae C1 to C8): This section of the spine includes the vertebrae in the head and neck above the shoulders. Injuries in this area are the most severe spinal cord injuries.
  • Thoracic (T1 to T12): Injuries in this section of the spine affect the upper and middle back, chest, and abdominal organs.
  • Lumbar (L1 to L5): Injuries in this section affect vertebrae in the lower back and can affect the hips and legs, leading to the need for a wheelchair or leg braces.
  • Sacral (S1 to S5): Injuries to the bottommost section of the spine affect the hips, thighs, pelvic organs, and sexual function.

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Signs & Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries

Signs & Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries

The symptoms of a spinal cord injury will depend on its location and severity.

In general, symptoms are more severe for injuries in the upper spinal cord, which can affect respiratory muscles, heart rate, and the ability to breathe. An injury in the lower part of the cord may affect bladder, bowel, and sexual function as well as sensation and movement in the legs.

If you have had an accident, see a doctor right away if you have any symptoms of a spinal cord injury, even if you think they are mild.

Emergency treatment should be sought for:

  • Loss of bowel or bladder control
  • Weakness, paralysis, or loss of coordination or balance
  • Tingling, numbness, or other loss of sensation in your hands or feet
  • Trouble breathing
  • Severe pain or pressure in your back, neck, or head

What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries?

What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries?

Causes of spinal cord injury include:

  • Falls from height or ground-level falls with head trauma
  • Diving accidents that cause cervical spinal cord injury
  • Gunshot and knife wounds
  • Motorcycle crashes
  • Medical/surgical complications

Falls and motor vehicle accidents are the most common causes of spinal cord injuries.

Risk Factors

Risk Factors

Certain factors can put you at an increased risk of sustaining a spinal injury. These include:

  • Being male
  • Being between the ages of 16 and 30
  • Being 65 or older
  • Using alcohol
  • Participating in contact sports

Complications

Complications

Complications may occur as the result of a spinal cord injury and can range from mild to severe. Spinal cord injuries may result in complications that can include:

  • Loss of bladder or bowel control
  • Changes to bone density
  • Inability to regulate body temperature
  • Pain
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Depression
  • Spasticity
  • Recurrent infections

Prevention

Prevention

You can reduce your risk of most spinal cord injuries by:

  • Wearing seatbelts while driving
  • Avoiding driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
  • Wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle or bicycle
  • Avoiding diving into lakes and rivers of unknown depth or underwater debris
  • Keeping firearms locked away and safe
  • Reducing the chance of falling in your home by securing or avoiding throw rugs, maintaining good lighting, and installing railings and grab bars wherever the risk of a fall is possible (such as on the stairs and in bathtubs)
 

This content has been reviewed by the following medical editors.

Andrew K. Chan, MD

Justin Anthony Neira, MD

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Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Spinal Cord Injury Care

Our spine doctors have experience and expertise in helping patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries and are committed to providing personalized care.

Our multidisciplinary team of spine specialists thoroughly evaluates the injury by engaging the patient through physical movement, if possible, and asking relevant questions. After a thorough diagnostic process, our experts can develop a comprehensive care plan.