Articles » NINDS Spinal Cord Injury Information Page: NINDS

NINDS Spinal Cord Injury Information Page: NINDS

Article title: NINDS Spinal Cord Injury Information Page: NINDS

Main condition: Spinal cord injury

Conditions: Spinal cord injury

---

What is Spinal Cord Injury?
Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when a traumatic event results in damage to cells within the spinal cord or severs the nerve tracts that relay signals up and down the spinal cord. The most common types of SCI include contusion (bruising of the spinal cord) and compression (caused by pressure on the spinal cord). Other types of injuries include lacerations (severing or tearing of some nerve fibers, such as damage caused by a gun shot wound), and central cord syndrome (specific damage to the corticospinal tracts of the cervical region of the spinal cord). Severe SCI often causes paralysis (loss of control over voluntary movement and muscles of the body) and loss of sensation and reflex function below the point of injury, including autonomic activity such as breathing and other activities such as bowel and bladder control. Other symptoms such as pain or sensitivity to stimuli, muscle spasms, and sexual dysfunction may develop over time. SCI patients are also prone to develop secondary medical problems, such as bladder infections, lung infections, and bed sores.

Is there any treatment?
While recent advances in emergency care and rehabilitation allow many SCI patients to survive, methods for reducing the extent of injury and for restoring function are still limited. Immediate treatment for acute SCI includes techniques to relieve cord compression, prompt (within 8 hours of the injury) drug therapy with corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone to minimize cell damage, and stabilization of the vertebrae of the spine to prevent further injury.

What is the prognosis?
The types of disability associated with SCI vary greatly depending on the severity of the injury, the segment of the spinal cord at which the injury occurs, and which nerve fibers are damaged. Most people with SCI regain some functions between a week and 6 months after injury, but the likelihood of spontaneous recovery diminishes after 6 months. Rehabilitation strategies can minimize long-term disability.

What research is being done?
NINDS research on trauma-related disorders such as SCI focuses on increasing scientific understanding of how changes in molecules, cells, and their complex interactions determine the outcome of SCI, and finding ways to prevent and treat these injuries. There is also increasing interest in neural stem and progenitor cells and their potential application in cell replacement therapies for the treatment of complex neurological disorders such as SCI.

 Organizations

Kent Waldrep National Paralysis Foundation
16415 Addison Road
Suite 550
Addison, TX 75001
kwaldrep@spinalvictory.org
http://www.spinalvictory.org/
Tel: 972-248-7100 800-SCI-CURE (925-2873)
Fax: 972-248-7313

Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation
500 Morris Avenue
Springfield, NJ 07081
http://www.paralysis.org/
Tel: 973-379-2690 800-225-0292
Fax: 973-912-9433

National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC)
1010 Wayne Avenue
Suite 800
Silver Spring, MD 20910-5633
naricinfo@kra.com
http://www.naric.com/
Tel: 301-562-2400 800-346-2742
Fax: 301-562-2401

Miami Project to Cure Paralysis/ Buoniconti Fund
P.O. Box 016960
R-48
Miami, FL 33101
mpinfo@miamiproject.med.miami.edu
http://www.miamiproject.miami.edu/
Tel: 305-243-6001 800-STANDUP (782-6387)
Fax: 305-243-6017

National Spinal Cord Injury Association
6701 Democracy Blvd.
#300-9
Bethesda, MD 20817
NSCIA2@aol.com
http://www.spinalcord.org/
Tel: 301-588-6959 800-962-9629
Fax: 301-588-9414

Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
801 18th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006-3517
info@pva.org
http://www.pva.org/
Tel: 202-USA-1300 (872-1300) 800-424-8200
Fax: 202-785-4452

Spinal Cord Society
19051 County Highway 1
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
http://users.aol.com/scsweb
Tel: 218-739-5252 or 739-5261
Fax: 218-739-5262

Related NINDS Publications and Information

Spinal Cord Injury: Emerging Concepts
Report of a 1996 workshop on spinal cord injury research and treatments.

Role of the Immune System in Spinal Cord Injury
Summary of a workshop, "Role of the Immune System in Spinal Cord Injury", held April 5-6, 2000.

Functional and Dysfunctional Spinal Circuitry: Role for Rehabilitation and Neural Prostheses
Summary of NINDS "New Strategies in Spinal Cord Injury," workshop held June, 2000.

Fact Sheet: Syringomyelia
Syringomyelia fact sheet compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Fact Sheet: Myoclonus
Myoclonus fact sheet compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Spasticity
Spasticity information sheet compiled by NINDS, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

This fact sheet is in the public domain. You may copy it.Provided by:
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892

 » Next page: NINDS Spinal Muscular Atrophy Information Page: NINDS

Medical Tools & Articles:

Tools & Services:

• Bookmark this page
• Symptom Search
• Symptom Checker
• Medical Dictionary

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles

Forums & Message Boards

• Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
• I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for my condition?
• See all the Boards.

   

homepage | back to top

Search Specialists by State and City

Choose... GENERAL PRACTICE CARDIAC HEALTH WOMEN'S HEALTH CANCER CARE RADIOLOGY MENTAL HEALTH PATHOLOGY EAR, NOSE, THROAT MEDICINE GENETICS NEUROLOGY DIALYSIS CARE SURGERY ORTHOPEDICS/SPORTS MEDICINE CHILDREN'S HEALTH OTHER SPECIALTIES