The spinal cord is a long stem of nervous tissue that runs down from your brain through the neck and down the back along to the bottom of the lumbar spine. Along with the brain, the spinal cord is an essential part of the body’s central nervous system. The role of the spinal cord is to transmit signals from the brain to other parts of the body. 

Injuries to the spinal cord may have profound effects on movement and functionality. There are different ways in which a spinal cord can be injured, including: 

Types of Spinal Cord injuries:

Complete Spinal Cord Injuries

A complete spinal cord injury results in paralysis below the site of the injury. There is no feeling or voluntary movement and both sides of the body are affected equally. In other words, sensory and motor function is completely lost below the point of the injury. 

Quadriplegia (Tetraplegia)

Quadriplegia, or tetraplegia, refers to a condition where a spinal cord injury impacts the arms, hands, trunk, legs, bowel, and bladder. The most severe functional limitations arise from damage to the spinal cord in the cervical region, particularly between the first and fourth vertebrae, which can lead to paralysis of the arms, hands, trunk, and legs, and may also affect breathing. In contrast, injuries to the spinal cord at levels C5-C8 typically allow individuals to raise their arms, bend their elbows, and possibly extend their wrists.

Paraplegia

Paraplegia involves paralysis that affects all or part of the trunk, legs, and pelvic organs, while usually preserving arm and hand function. This condition commonly results from damage to the spinal cord in the thoracic (mid-back) or lumbar/sacral (lower back) regions.

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

An incomplete spinal cord injury occurs when only part of the cord is damaged through a tear, spinal cord compression, or other injuries. People with incomplete injuries may experience partial paralysis but may retain some feeling and voluntary movement on one or both sides of the body.

Treatment, Rehabilitation and Management

Timely access to prehospital management, emergency and acute care, and rehabilitation is crucial for survival and achieving optimal functioning, with the goal of minimizing long-term disability. Long-term management is essential for maintaining function, preventing secondary conditions, and reducing premature mortality. Key measures include:

1. Timely Prehospital Management: Quick identification of suspected spinal cord injury (SCI), rapid assessment, and initiation of injury management, including spine immobilization when necessary.
2. Acute Care: Appropriate treatment based on the injury’s type and severity, instability, neural compression, and the preferences of the patient and their family. This may include surgical intervention.
3. Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation: Access to acute, post-acute, and ongoing rehabilitation services, including mental health support, to address impairments, enhance functioning and independence, support community and vocational reintegration, and improve overall well-being.
4. Assistive Products: Provision of devices and technologies that aid in performing daily activities, thereby increasing functionality and independence.
5. Ongoing Health Care: Continuous monitoring and management to detect complications, prevent secondary conditions, and mitigate risks.
6. Specialized Knowledge and Skills: Ensuring medical care and rehabilitation providers have expertise in SCI to deliver effective care and support.

Building Your Spinal Cord Injury Case and Damages That Can be Covered

It is critical to fully recognize the total impact caused by a tragic accident of this magnitude. Proving negligence in a spinal cord injury case is easier said than done. Even if you know your car accident was caused by a reckless driver, it’s difficult to hold these parties liable. That’s why you need an experienced personal injury lawyer. 

Boland Romaine’s spinal cord injury Lawyers know that these cases take special care, require significant firm funds, and a good team to succeed.

• We’ll review the details of your case
• The police report filed after your crash and search for more evidence like traffic cam footage or first-hand accounts. 
• Hire experts like accident reconstructionists.  

Choosing a Lawyer with experience in handling spinal cord injury cases and working with other healthcare professionals such as physical and occupational therapists, social workers, and psychiatrists is important to ensure you receive the best possible outcome and have a strong healthcare team supporting you.

Boland Romaine Personal Injury Lawyers is one of Ontario’s most respected injury firms with over 40 years of trial experience. Voted as one of the top 10 personal injury firms by Canadian Lawyer Magazine, Boland Romaine’s Lawyers have represented the province’s most vulnerable injured victims in court and won. Trial experience will protect the injured if negotiations break down. A Lawyer for the injured needs the fortitude to say “no” to unreasonable offers and the commitment and the skill to take the injured person to trial.