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What is spinal injury?

Spinal injury is an injury that happens to the bones of the spine (vertebrae), and/or to the spinal cord, the bundle of nerves that runs down the middle of the spine.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

What are the symptoms of spinal injury?

Symptoms of spinal injury include a loss of movement, numbness or tingling in the arms or legs, loss of bladder or bowel control, pain or stiffness in the neck and weakness or difficulty walking.

What causes spinal injury?

A common cause of spinal injury is motor vehicle accidents. Other causes include sports injuries, falls, or other accidents such as diving into shallow water.

How is spinal injury diagnosed?

Spinal injury is diagnosed by physical examination and a range of scans, including X-ray, CT or MRI.

How is spinal injury treated?

Immediate first aid for spinal injury is not to move the injured person at all unless absolutely necessary. How spinal injury is treated depends on how severe it is. If the spinal cord is completely severed (cut), then nothing can be done to return the person …

Can spinal injury be prevented?

A person can reduce their risk of spinal injury by wearing a seatbelt, driving safely, avoiding high-impact contact sports and, if playing such sports, only tackling an opponent safely.

Are there different types of spinal injury?

Spinal injury can include injury to the bones of the spine (vertebrae) or to the nerves that run down it (spinal cord). Injury to the spinal cord can result in loss of movement or paralysis, depending on how bad the injury is. If the nerves are …

What is the outlook for spinal injury?

The outlook for spinal injury varies, depending on how severe the injury is. If the nerves have been completely severed, there is no way to repair the damage and paralysis will remain for life. If the nerves are not completely severed and movement …

Is spinal injury serious?

Spinal injury should be treated as a medical emergency. Although most spinal injuries are minor and result in no long-term problems, minor injuries should be treated as severe until diagnosed by a doctor. In cases of severe injury, in which the nerves are …

Related topics

Diseases & conditions

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is an abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal that can cause varying symptoms, depending on the location and severity of the narrowing. Symptoms may include numbness, weakness or pain in the limbs, as well as bladder, bowel or sexual dysfunction. Treatment can include physical therapy, medication and surgery.…
Diseases & conditions

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is caused when one of the vertebrae of the spine shifts out of position. It can cause back pain and stiffness. It is different to a slipped disc, which occurs when a disc in between two vertebrae is damaged.…
Diseases & conditions

Cervical radiculopathy

In cervical radiculopathy, a nerve in your neck (the cervical spine) becomes pinched. This can affect nerves that travel to your arms, shoulder and hands, causing weakness, numbness, pins and needles or pain.…
Diseases & conditions

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is the sideways curve of the spine. It is a common condition, affecting about 2-3% of the population to some degree. Early intervention can help lessen the severity of scoliosis, using physiotherapy, good posture practice and possibly a brace.…
Diseases & conditions

Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis in which the joints of the spine become inflamed, in particular where the spine attaches to the pelvis. It usually develops in young adults and causes pain and stiffness, especially in the lower back. Eventually, fusion of vertebrae in the spine can occur.…
Diseases & conditions

Torticollis

Torticollis is the involuntary twisting of the neck to one side due to painful spasms in the neck muscles. Also known as ‘wry neck’, it can occur at any age. Causes can include inflammation, infection or, in babies, an abnormal head posture in utero. In adults, almost all cases of torticollis resolve spontaneously, but infants need exercises to prevent ongoing problems.…

About this article

Author: Dr Idan Ben-Barak PhD, MSc, BSc (Med)
First answered: 16 Jul 2015
Last reviewed: 19 May 2018
Rating: 4.9 out of 5
Votes: 178 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Spinal stenosis

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