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Spinal Cord Injuries

Frequently Asked Questions: Personal Injury

Spinal Cord Injuries

March 12, 2008 |

The spinal cord is comprised of a bundle of long, cord-like nerve fibers encased in segments of bone called vertebrae. There are 33 vertebrae that are arranged into one column called the spinal column. These vertebrae are grouped into 5 sections: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. Together they are responsible for relaying sensory, motor and autonomic information between the brain and body. Serious impairment can arise when the nerves or vertebrae are damaged or severed either by trauma or disease.

There are 7,600 to 10,000 incidents of spinal cord injury (SCI) in the United States each year. These injuries are classified as complete when neural signals are completely interrupted, and partial when only partially interrupted. Fifty-five percent of all spinal injuries are partial injuries, and the remaining 45 percent are complete injuries. The severity of the injury usually depends on the location of the injury. Injuries that occur closer to the brain are the most debilitating. A loss of feeling and functioning of the upper limbs is referred to at paraplegia, whereas total loss of limb-functioning is termed tetraplegia (formerly "quadriplegia"). In addition to paralysis, injuries to the spinal cord can also result in breathing difficulty, complications with bowel and bladder control, and sexual dysfunction.

The leading cause of SCIs is car accidents, followed by acts of violence, falls, sports, and diseases. Legal claims arise when the source of the injury can be traced, in part or in whole, to the negligent acts or failures to act of another party.

The early stages of treatment for SCI may include medication, immobilization, and sometimes surgery. Later stages of recovery typically include physical therapy to assist the victim in maximizing mobility and independence. The rehabilitation team also includes occupational therapists, rehabilitation nurses, recreation therapists, psychologists, social workers, dietitians, and a doctor who specializes in physical medicine or spinal cord injury. Following SCI, the average expenses during the first year after the accident, including medical costs and living expenses, is $198,335. Each subsequent year costs an average of $24,154. The amount depends on the severity and location of the injury. For example, the estimated lifetime cost for a tetraplegic individual first paralyzed at age 25 can be as high as $1,349,029. An experienced and dedicated team of attorneys can help you recover money for your injury to help you pay for such medical costs and living expenses, to compensate you for your pain and suffering, and to otherwise ease and facilitate your recovery.

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