Dec. 09 blog 2–Spinal Cord Injury Liability

Spinal cord trauma is the general medical term for  any sort of damage to the spinal cord. Spinal cord injury may result from trauma that directly impacts the cord itself or from damage to surrounding muscle, bone, or other tissue that indirectly damages the cord.

The symptoms of spinal cord trauma are various, depending on where the injury has occurred. In general, spinal cord trauma results in debilitation of strength, movement,  and sensation at and below the site of the injury. Determining the severity of spinal cord injury symptoms often can depend on whether or not the entire cord has been seriously or partially damaged..

The spinal cord does not extend lower than the 1st lumbar vertebra. Thus trauma at and below this vertebra do not normally cause damage to the spinal cord. However, such injuries have been known to cause “cauda equina syndrome,” which is injury to the nerve roots in the lower back area.

Spinal cord injuries occurring near the neck are known as cervical injuries. Cervical spinal cord injury symptoms can affect both the arms and the legs. Spinal cord injuries occurring at chest level are known as thoracic injuries. The symptoms of thoracic spinal cord trauma can affect the legs. Cervical and thoracic spinal cord injuries may result in one or more of the following symptoms: difficult breathing, numbness, loss of bladder and bowel control, pain, weakness, and paralysis. Trauma to the cervical or high-thoracic spinal cord may also result in problems with blood pressure, abnormal sweating, and difficulty with regulating body temperature. Spinal injuries that occur at the lower-back level can result in various symptoms that may affect the legs.

Mueller Hillin specializes in Spinal Cord Injury cases in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Houston and Austin.