If you need legal advice from a U.S lawyer with experience in handling spinal injury claims, you have come to the right place.
Our spinal injury lawyers are highly experienced and understand the complexities of a spinal injury, lawsuits and settlements.
If you have suffered from an accident that has damaged your spinal cord, then you may be entitled to compensation.
Just complete the contact form, and a lawyer will be in touch.
What is spinal injury?
A spinal cord injury (SCI) happens if pressure is applied to the spinal cord, and/or the blood and oxygen supply to the cord is disrupted. This results in death of part of the spinal cord.
During the accident that causes the injury, it is usually the case that the spinal column is violently bent forwards or backwards. The result can be that bones dislocate or fracture; bony fragments may press on the spinal cord causing damage; or the spinal cord may be stretched.
It is estimated that in the U. S. there is approximately 12,000 new cases each year of spinal cord injury. The number of people in the United States who are alive in 2007 who have SCI has been estimated to be up to 300,938 persons. Since 2005, motor vehicle accidents account for 42% of reported SCI cases. The next most common cause of SCI is falls, followed by acts of violence (mainly gunshot wounds), and recreational sporting activities.
Level of spinal cord injury
Spinal cord injuries can occur at any level of the spinal cord, and the level of the injury will determine which bodily functions are affected or lost. Damage to the spinal cord can cause changes in movement, feeling, bladder control, bowel control, or other bodily functions.
A spinal cord injury at the neck level may cause paralysis in both arms and legs, while a lower injury may affect only your legs and lower parts of your body.
The severity of the spinal cord damage
Spinal cord injuries are classified as partial or complete, depending on how damage there is to the spinal cord.
The severity of the back injury is usually termed as a “complete injury” or incomplete injury”. With a complete injury, the damage is severe and the messages cannot travel past the level of lesion. It results in total loss of movement and sensation below the level of lesion.
An incomplete injury is one in which some parts of the spinal cord are spared at the level of lesion, and there is not as bad as a complete injury. Some messages can therefore travel past the lesion, resulting in partial loss of sensation and/or movement below the level of lesion.
For example, a “C5” injury generally means that you would be able to bend your elbow normally and would have normal feeling to around the level of your elbow but feeling and movement would be reduced below that level.
Tetraplegia (also known as Quadriplegia): is the partial or complete paralysis of the upper and lower portion of the body, (this includes trunk, arms and hands, and the legs). There is injury to the spinal cord between the spinal cord segments C1 and T1.
Paraplegia: is the partial or complete paralysis of the lower portion of the body, including the legs and, in many cases, all or part of the trunk. Injury to the spinal cord below the neck causes paraplegia. There is injury to the spinal cord below the T1 cord segment. Arms and hands however, are normal.
The most common type of spinal cord injury is incomplete tetraplegia (34.1%), followed by complete paraplegia (23.0%), complete tetraplegia (18.3%), and incomplete paraplegia (18.5%).
Spinal Injury Symptoms
Depending on the level of the spine that is damaged, and how bad the injury is, the following are possible symptoms and effects of a spinal cord injury:
- Loss of movement
- Loss of feeling
- Blood pressure and circulation may be altered
- Respiratory (breathing) problems
- Difficulties with temperature control, including sweating
- Bladder and bowel function may be altered
- Sexual dysfunction
- Difficulties with fertility
How is a Spinal Injury diagnosed?
A neurological examination is needed.
Tests may be ordered such as:
- X-rays. X-rays can show vertebral problems, fractures and degenerative changes in your spine.
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan. A CT uses computers to form a series of cross-sectional images that can define bone, disk and other problems in the spine.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI uses a strong magnetic force and radio waves to produce computer-generated images. An MRI can help assess the spinal cord, and can show-up herniated disks, blood clots. However an MRI can't be used on certain people such as those with pacemakers or cervical traction devices.
- Myelography. After a special dye is injected into your spinal canal, X-rays or CT scans of your vertebrae can reveal a herniated disk or other lesions. This test is useful when an MRI can’t be used.
If you need compensation claims advice for your spinal cord injury, please contact us as soon as possible, as time limits apply.
|
