Spinal cord injuries are among the most devastating. For many, they result in permanent paralysis, a diminished quality of life, and a significantly shortened lifespan. Other victims may suffer long-term mobility issues or live in chronic pain or discomfort. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of these types of injuries, and you should have the facts about what you might face if you sustained a spinal cord injury from a car accident.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
The spinal cord is a network of nerves that runs from the base of the head down the back to the legs. This network of nerves carries signals from the brain to the rest of the body and back. Injuries at any point along the path can create the risk of changes in that communication, leading to changes in sensation, movement, and bodily functions.
Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) can happen at various points:
- Cervical: The uppermost portion of the spinal column, involving the top seven vertebrae, or bones of the spinal column, called C1 to C7
- Thoracic: This portion is in the upper and mid-portion of the back, providing stability and support for body functions. It is made of 12 vertebrae, labeled T1 to T12
- Lumbar: The next section, the lumbar spine, includes five large vertebrae labeled L1 to L5, which contribute to supporting the body's weight and activities, such as running and walking
- Sacral: The bottom portion of the spinal cord, the sacral spinal cord includes five fused bones that create a triangular shape at the bottom of the spine, and are labeled S1 to S5.
Each area can suffer damage that creates different outcomes depending on the severity and extent of the damage.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
A complete spinal cord injury can lead to paralysis, such as:
- Paraplegia, a loss of sensation and movement in the lower body
- Tetraplegia, a loss of sensation and movement in both the upper and lower body
An incomplete spinal cord injury may include injuries that cause some damage, though not full loss.
Damage to the vertebrae can include fractures to the bones or compression, in which the discs between the spinal cord become damaged, applying pressure to the spinal cord itself. Some people retain motor function or partial sensation. There is a higher opportunity for rehabilitation here.
How Car Accidents Cause Spinal Cord Injuries
The sudden and forceful movement of the body during a car accident creates significant changes in the structure of the spinal column. This flexible structure supports movement, but significant force can create misalignment, fractures, or strains.
Compression and bending of the spinal cord can happen when a car accident, such as a head-on collision, occurs, causing damage to each bone and the discs between. Ejection from a car accident can cause severe injuries to the spinal cord, including fractures, dislocations, and crushing.
Which Types of Car Accidents Are Most Likely to Cause SCI?
A spinal cord injury can occur in numerous ways. Any type of compression or overextension can cause damage to the spinal cord. This cord runs from the base of your head all the way to your hips. Any area can suffer damage, and when it does, there is a risk of serious injury. The following are some of the most common types of accidents that cause spinal cord injuries:
- Rear-end collisions: The rapid forward motion of a rear-end collision can cause overextension of the upper portion of the spine, called the cervical spine. This is a common cause of whiplash and disc herniation. Both can compress the spinal cord, causing pain and debilitating conditions.
- T-bone accidents: If a side-impact collision occurs, it could directly impact the spinal column, causing fractures to any of the vertebrae. The impact can also cause dislocation of the vertebrae, which can lead to spinal cord pinching.
- Head-on accidents: Some of the most traumatic head-on accidents can cause damage to the upper portion of the spinal column and cord, which can lead to paralysis.
- Rollover collisions: Damage to the spinal column can also occur in a rollover accident, often leading to crushing injuries to the spinal column, which can also sever or damage the spinal cord.
The more speed and force behind the impact, the higher the risk of serious injury. That is especially true when the driver is not wearing a seatbelt.
Signs and Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury After a Car Crash
Knowing that a spinal cord injury is present is not always easy. While some injuries may be obvious, like loss of mobility, others may have subtle indications of an injury. Some of the most common signs of a spinal cord injury after a car accident include:
- Intense pain or pressure in the neck or back
- Sudden onset of headaches or pain at the base of the neck
- Tingling or numbness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
- Loss of movement
- Sudden onset of muscle weakness
- Changes in the ability to break easily
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Worsening confusion and pain in the days after an accident
- Changes in sensation
If you have trouble with balance or walking, suffer worsening back or leg pain, or seem to develop stiffness you did not have prior to, seek medical care. A full physical can pinpoint even the smallest of injuries.
What Is the Best Treatment for a Spinal Cord Injury?
Treatment for a spinal cord injury is dependent on the area of the injury, the severity of it, and the symptoms a person feels. In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, immobilizing the spine prevents further damage. From there, doctors will take X-rays and MRIs to pinpoint the specific areas of damage and the severity. Treatment could range from rest and immobility for several days to surgery to relieve pressure. Some people benefit from physical therapy or traction, a method to align and stabilize the spine.
What Is the Long-Term Prognosis for a Spinal Cord Injury?
Individuals living with spinal cord injury will see a range of potential outcomes based on the level of injury and the part of the body impacted. It is difficult to know what could happen after a spinal cord injury. If you have a serious injury that leaves you with limited mobility, it could improve over time as it heals and with rehabilitation. The body and brain can relearn functions in some situations. In other cases, spinal cord injury involves more complex outcomes. Complications of a spinal cord injury can lead to:
- Chronic pain due to nerve damage
- Total or partial paralysis
- Loss of mobility to the arms
- Future needs for surgery due to herniation of discs
However, many patients also fully recover. For victims who do not recover, there is the risk of permanent paralysis occurring later in life, requiring ongoing medical and supportive care.
Adapting Your Home and Car for Spinal Cord Injuries
Not all spinal cord injuries heal fully. Many people struggle with ongoing pain and limitations on mobility. This may mean making adjustments to your home to make it more accessible, considering your limitations. The same applies to your car.
If you are not in need of a walking cane or a wheelchair, you may need a ramp and assistive devices added to your home to help you navigate tricky areas, especially stairs. Some people need adjustments to their vehicle to accommodate a wheelchair. Adapting your home and car to accommodate your new long-term injuries may be something to consider for improving your quality of life.
Common Questions About Spinal Cord Injury from a Car Accident
What level of spinal cord injury causes urinary incontinence?
Those who suffered a serious injury to the spinal cord could face urinary incontinence. Typically, this type of symptom occurs when there is damage to the T12 vertebrae. This can lead to an inability to empty the bladder or bladder control concerns. However, injuries below the T12 level may result in bladder muscles that do not contract, leading to urinary retention and leakage.
What level of spinal cord injury impairs breathing?
Damage to the cervical region of the spinal cord can cause impaired breathing. That includes C1 to C2, requiring mechanical ventilation, C3 to C4, typically requiring temporary mechanical ventilation with the risk of permanent or C5, weakened breathing, and trouble coughing.
What level of spinal cord injury leads to erectile dysfunction?
Injuries involving the sacral segments of the spinal cord, S2 to S4, can cause erectile dysfunction as this area of the spinal cord controls reflect erections. Injuries above T12 or L1 can lead to difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection as well. Sexual function changes can occur due to loss of mobility and sensation, as well as the part of the spinal cord that is impacted.
Can a severed spinal cord be repaired?
The spinal cord has a limited ability to regenerate after an injury. That means that while surgical procedures may help, it is not always possible. Scar tissue is likely to develop at the area of the severed nerve, which makes it impossible for nerve fibers to regrow.
How long can you live with spinal cord compression?
Life expectancy with spinal cord compression depends on the severity and cause. After a car accident, some people may live only months, while others may live for many years. Some people suffer complications from a spinal cord injury early on, even while in an intensive care unit. Others develop a blood clot due to limited mobility years later.
How much does a spinal cord stimulator cost?
The cost of a spinal cord stimulator can range from $15,000 up to $50,000 or more, depending on the type and its intended length of use.
Does Medicare cover spinal cord stimulators?
For individuals with qualified injuries, Medicare may cover the cost of neurostimulators after co-pays are paid. Medicare should also cover emergency medical stabilization, CT scans, X-rays, and other necessary treatments that require immediate attention.
What Does a Spinal Cord Injury Attorney Do?
A spinal cord injury lawyer provides legal guidance to you throughout the entire process of proving fault, documenting your injuries, and building your claim. Your lawyer will take the time to learn about the complexities you are facing, including the future, long-term implications, and ongoing risks to your health and well-being.
With the guidance of a spinal cord injury attorney, you gain insight into what your rights are and how to hold the at-fault party responsible. Your lawyer will negotiate fair compensation or take the at-fault party to court to recover fair damages.
A spinal cord injury attorney helps you get justice after someone else's negligence causes your injuries. If you are battling injuries, seek the guidance of an attorney for help recovering damages.
