Spinal Cord Injury Essay

A traumatic injury is defined as a physical injury of sudden onset and severity which requires immediate medical attention. Traumatic injuries are the result of blunt, penetrating, or burn mechanisms. The majority of traumatic injuries are obtained through motor vehicle accidents, falls, natural disasters, and sports injuries. All traumatic injuries require immediate care, preferably at a hospital. Common types of injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and concussions. Each year, 1.4 million people in the United States sustain a traumatic brain injury. Trauma is the leading cause of death in people under the age of 40, since head injury is more common in young adults than senior citizens. Several types of injuries
lead to traumatic head injuries, which include skull fractures, concussions, and cerebral contusions. Skull fractures are a result of receiving a significant blow to the head. Concussions are a relatively minor injury, and typically cause a loss of consciousness in the victim. Cerebral contusions are bruises on the brain, which develop from rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head. For patient with mild head injuries, they will receive a head CT scan to determine if there is any bleeding within the brain. If the CT scan is “clear”, then they will most likely be released from the hospital, with instructions for observation being given to a family member or friend. For patients with severe head injuries, they will be admitted to the ICU, or intensive care unit, for doctors to monitor their brain. If significant brain swelling or bleeding occur, surgery will be required for the patient. A spinal cord injury is defined as damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function below the level of lesion, which can include paralysis, sensory loss, and bowel, bladder, or sexual dysfunction.
Spinal cord injuries commonly occur after trauma, with around 10,000 new injuries occurring each year. The majority of victims are males aged 16-30, typically resulting from motor vehicle collisions and falls. Spinal cord injuries are divided into two categories, complete and incomplete. A complete injury means that there is no function below the level of lesion, meaning there is no sensation or voluntary movement. An incomplete injury means there is little function below the level of injury, such as being able to move one limb or being able to feel parts of the body which cannot be
moved.
Treatment for spinal cord injuries likely require surgical fixation, which involves fusion. Fusion is the joining of two vertebrae with a bone graft, held together by metal hardware. After surgery, spinal cord injuries are treated with intensive rehabilitation and physical therapy. Concussions typically occur when the head hits an object, or a moving object strikes the head.
Concussions are considered minor types of traumatic brain injury. The majority of concussions occur from a fall, motor vehicle collisions, or sports activities. A jarring, or a big movement of the brain, in any direction can cause a person to lose consciousness. How long the person stays unconscious determines how bad the concussion is. Symptoms of a mild concussion include loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting, seeing flashing lights, and a prolonged state of confusion. To check for concussions, doctors will perform a physical exam, and tests could be run that include an EEG, head CT scan, and an MRI of the brain. Treatment for concussions include staying under close observation of a family member or friend, and to make activity
changes. Sports play a major role in the common causes of traumatic injuries. Several popular sports, including football, cheerleading, and skateboarding can easily lead to receiving a traumatic injury, such as a concussion, spinal cord injury, or a severe traumatic brain injury. Head-to-head collisions in football commonly lead to concussions, cheerleaders have the possibility of falling during a stunt, and skateboarders can easily fall and hit the curb. To prevent such injuries from occurring, athletes can wear properly fitted and maintained helmets, if their sport so requires one. Also, following safety rules for each sport is paramount. Although sports do bring risk of injury, the myriad of benefits outweighs the possibility of injury.