Causes :- Two main causes of SCI are roadside accidents and falls from heights or vehicles. Other
causes include assault due to heavy objects, gunshot injuries, and sharp objects piercing the back.
Assault by angry bulls with horns is often reported from our villages where a bull or cow goes out of
control and throws the victim on the ground.
Symptoms :- spinal cord injury at the cervical region is the most serious as it may cause paralysis of all
the limbs (quadriplegia) including respiratory muscle and loss of bladder and bowel control. The
higher the injury level in the spine more dangerous it is for life due to failure of respiration. The
sensory feeling is lost below the level of injury.
Thoracic spinal cord injury causes paralysis of both lower limbs (paraplegia) including loss of bowel,
and bladder.
Spinal injuries involving the lumbar region are least damaging as the spinal cord ends at the upper
lumbar level. The patient may have mild weakness of the lower limbs and some sensory
disturbances which usually recover with physiotherapy.
Treatment :- Some patients where there is hemorrhage and swelling of the spinal cord as a result of
trauma may benefit from decompression and stabilization of the spine. Surgical intervention
required for lumbar region have better prognosis.
Rehabilitation :- Severe spinal cord injuries have a poor prognosis of recovery. Rehabilitation is a
crucial aspect of spinal cord injury management. This includes wheelchair mobilization,
physiotherapy, gait training, counseling, and bringing the patient back to society and making an
effort towards making him independent.