The first step in treatment of a suspected
spinal cord injury is to verify the patient is breathing and the heart is beating. A
spinal cord injury in the upper neck can cause a loss of control of normal breathing. This may require the placement of a breathing tube and use of a ventilator. The next step in treatment of a
spinal cord injury is immobilization. This often occurs at the time of injury prior to being transported to the hospital. Emergency medical technicians may place the patient in a cervical collar or on a backboard to help prevent the spine from moving. If the patient has a
spinal cord injury, further movement of the spine could lead to further damage. The most common cause of
spinal cord injury is trauma. Nearly half of the injuries are caused by motor vehicle accidents. Other types of
trauma include: falls from heights, violence (stabbing or gunshot wounds to the spine), and sporting injuries (diving, football, rugby, equestrian, etc.).Spinal cord injury can also be caused by compression of the cord by a tumor, infection, or inflammation. Some patients have a smaller than normal spinal canal (called spinal stenosis) and are at a higher risk of injury to the spinal cord. All tissues in your body including the
spinal cord require a good blood supply to deliver oxygen and other nutrients. Failure of this blood supply to the
spinal cord can cause
spinal cord injury. This can be caused by an
aneurysm (ballooning of a blood vessel), compression of a blood vessel or a prolonged drop in blood pressure.
Relevant Topics in Medical Sciences
