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Why are spinal cord injuries catastrophic?

On Behalf of | Mar 25, 2022 | Injuries |

People who’ve been in a car crash are at risk of many injuries. One of these is a spinal cord injury, which can lead to lifelong effects. These can range from limited motion in one limb to complete paralysis. There are several things that impact how a spinal cord injury will affect a person. 

Regardless of the reason for the spinal cord injury, the treatment plan will focus first on stabilizing the person. Once that’s done, the focus shifts to trying to minimize the effects of the injury. Here are some of the things that affect the severity of a spinal cord injury:

It’s location

The location of the injury determines what parts of the body are affected. The area below the damaged spot on the spine is what will be impacted by the injury. Higher injuries will affect larger parts of the body than lower injuries. 

Whether it is complete or incomplete

When the spinal cord is damaged, the nerves are damaged. When the nerve pathways are completely severed, the injury is known as a complete injury. When they are partially severed, the injury is incomplete. A spinal cord injury that’s complete has less of a chance of full recovery than an incomplete injury. This means that complete injuries are catastrophic because there’s not a good chance that the person will regain all their abilities.

Anyone who suffers a spinal cord injury should ensure they get prompt medical care. These injuries can quickly worsen, which can lead to long-term problems. Some individuals who suffer a spinal cord injury may choose to seek compensation for those impacts of the injuries. This is done through a civil claim that’s filed against the negligent party who’s liable for the crash. Someone who’s familiar with these situations can help you work through the legal matters while you try to heal.

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