How does spinal cord damage appear in spinal trauma?

hemorrhage Back injury, or spine and spinal cord injuries, is the main cause of disability in trauma practice.30% of such cases result in fatalities, the remaining victims acquire certain consequences of spinal cord injuries that remain for life.

How spinal injuries are divided

Damage can be closed when there is no injury to the soft tissues( skin and muscles) of the back. Such pathologies include dislocations and vertebral fractures. The wound can be open when there is damage to the integrity of the skin. These are open fractures, gunshot wounds and wounds of cold weapons.

Important! Open injuries are complicated by the attachment of microbial flora and the development of suppuration.

Symptoms of spinal injuries

Symptoms of spinal cord injuries and functional condition of the organs will depend on the location of the problem, from the place of separation of the spine. The most severe and dangerous are spinal cord injuries in the cervical spine. Relatively easy flow will be injuries in the lumbosacral department.

In the event of injury, any structure of the spine can be damaged:

• is the bone marrow;
• muscles and ligaments;
• intervertebral discs;
• body itself and its roots.

The degree of bone marrow damage can be different and depends on the strength and duration of the traumatic factor:

• organ shaking;
• contusion of the brain substance;
• compression and crushing of the medulla.

There may also be a complete or partial organ rupture;Separation of the front or back roots. In some cases, with damage to blood vessels, a hemorrhage into the membrane of the organ or into the very substance of the brain will develop. Complaints against victims:

• pain in the place of injury;
• impaired sensitivity of parts of the body below the level of injury;
• , there may be a lack of body movements below the level of the lesion;
• with tearing of the roots can give rise to unusual sensations or pains in the segments of the body innervated by these spines.

With concussion of the brain substance, all the changes that occur are reversible and the recovery occurs within a few days. This is due to the fact that with concussion there is no damage to the cells of the brain substance. Signs seen with concussion:

• limb weakness;
• slight sensitivity disorder;
• transient disorders of pelvic organs.

In the case of a spinal cord injury, the crushing of the neurons will be determined morphologically, as a result of which a more severe and long-lasting symptomatology is observed. The main symptoms:

• no limb movements below the injury site;
• weakness of the muscles of the extremities and trunk;
• absence of physiological skin and tendon reflexes;
• partial or total loss of sensitivity;
• marked violation of the pelvic organs.

Restoration of the functionality of the organ occurs within a few weeks. With compression, all the symptoms will be even more pronounced, as more neurons are damaged. First all the same symptoms will be determined, as with a brain injury.

After a while develops severe pain syndrome. Violation of the function of the bladder changes from hypertension with a delay in urination to hypotension and urinary incontinence. Gradually there are pathological tendon reflexes, periodic muscle spasms.

Partial or complete rupture of the brain string is characterized by loss of all functions - movement, sensitivity, innervation of internal organs. With a partial rupture, these symptoms will be observed only on the side of the lesion, with complete separation of the spinal cord - on both sides of the body below the level of rupture.

Symptoms of spinal cord injury with

hemorrhage Symptoms of spinal cord injury during hemorrhage will be manifested with acute pain syndrome and complete paralysis of the limbs. Recovery begins immediately after removal of the hematoma. In addition to the specific symptoms associated with disruption of the integrity of the spinal cord, there may be symptoms from the internal organs:

• breathing disorders in the form of dyspnea or attacks of suffocation;
• cardiac arrhythmia - arrhythmia;
• due to impaired innervation, trophic skin changes are noted.

After the treatment, all patients need rehabilitation after spinal cord injuries. These activities should include:

• a course of special physical exercise exercises;
• course of massage sessions;
• acupuncture;
• water aerobics;
• medical recovery of nerve tissue.

Restoration of the spinal cord after an injury takes quite a long time and requires some effort. Spinal trauma is a complex problem that requires as early as possible diagnosis and adequate treatment, as well as full rehabilitation.