Spinal Cord Injuries main cause is motor vehicle accidents

The top cause of all spinal cord injuries suffered in the UK is car accidents.

This is not exactly a surprise given the fact that automobiles often collide at high speeds and have a large mass that can easily impact a body that is sitting still encased in the collision. The impact and the actual crashing of materials will shake the tissue and cells that encase the spinal cord causing extreme damage.

The actual definition of a spinal cord injury is any traumatic injury that occurs to the spinal cord column and can cause different types of sensory and motor issues. Severe cases can call for tough rehab and long term medical care. Some people with progressive rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis have an increased chance for spinal cord injuries and those who are advanced in age are also at high risk for injury.

Most spinal cord trauma, however, happens to young, healthy individuals, according to the NIH. Over 80 percent of spinal injuries happen to males, according to the Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. Almost half of all spinal cord injuries are caused by automobile crashes, according to the Center. NewYork-Presbyterian attributes the high number of injuries arising from car accidents to alcohol and drug use as well as failure to take safety precautions, especially not wearing a seatbelt.

Region of Injury Determines Severity

The severity of trauma depends on what section of the spinal cord is damaged. This is because weakness and sensory loss occur at and below the injured area. Injuries near the top of the spine result in more extensive disability than do injuries low in the spine, according to the NIH. Injuries to any of the neck areas of the spinal cord can result in quadriplegia, or paralysis of all four limbs; spinal cord lesions in the chest or lower back can result in paraplegia, or loss of leg movement.

According to the NIH, additional complications that can occur include:
-Breathing difficulties
-Loss of normal bowel and bladder control
-Numbness
-Pain
-Sensory changes
-Spasticity (increased muscle tone)

A spinal cord injury lawyer can help motor vehicle accident victims recover compensation for the many financial and emotional costs that typically result from these traumatic events.