Types of Spinal Cord Injuries:
Causes, Effects and Legal Recourse:
Welcome to Spinal Cord Injury Attorney, where we’re committed to helping victims that have been diagnosed with complete spinal cord injuries and incomplete spinal cord injuries and investigating possible legal avenues for financial support due to the negligent acts of others. Traumatic spinal cord injuries from accidents resulting in paraplegia and quadriplegia are severe life changing injuries and often the legal system is the only option for those with spinal injuries. As spinal cord injury lawyers, with decades of experience, we understand what is required to prove negligence and hold the parties and corporations responsible.
A spinal cord injury (SCI) can be devastating and life-changing, so it’s crucial to understand the different types of SCIs and their causes, effects and legal implications so injured persons can seek justice and compensation. In this comprehensive guide, we explore the common types of spine and spinal cord injuries and your legal rights in pursuing a personal injury claim, negligence, or product liability cause of action.
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Understanding the Spinal Cord:
Before delving into the types of spinal cord injuries, it’s essential to understand the spinal cord’s role in the body. The spinal cord is a complex bundle of nerves that extends from the brainstem to the lower back and is housed within the vertebral column. The spinal column and the spinal cord thus act as a communication highway between the brain and the rest of the body, transmitting signals that control movement, sensation and various bodily functions. When there is a severe injury along this brain and spinal cord “highway”, then paralysis and impairment results.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can be categorized into two main types:
1. Complete Spinal Cord Injury
In complete SCIs, the spinal cord is fully severed, leading to a complete loss of sensation and motor function below the level of the injury. Complete spinal cord injuries is the most severe spinal cord injuries diagnosed. With most patients with a complete spinal cord injury, these injuries are often permanent and catastrophic, resulting in paralysis.
2. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
In incomplete SCIs, the spinal cord is partially damaged, allowing some nerve signals to pass through. The extent of paralysis and sensory loss varies in incomplete spinal cord injury patients, and there may be a chance for partial recovery.
Classifications of Complete Spinal Cord Injuries
Paraplegia refers to paralysis of the lower half of the body, which typically affects both legs and sometimes the lower trunk. It often results from injuries to the thoracic or lumbar regions of the spinal cord. Common causes include motor vehicle accidents, truck accidents, rollover accidents, falls and workplace accidents. Persons suffering from paraplegia who lose mobility and sensation in the lower body may require the use of a wheelchair or other mobility aids for daily activities.
Paraplegia often results form injuries to the spinal cord at:
- Thoracic Spine (T1 through T12)
- Lumbar Spine (L1 through L5)
- Sacral Spine (S1 through S5)
If your paraplegia resulted from another party’s negligence, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim, or products liability lawsuit. Such a legal claim can seek compensation for your past and future medical and healthcare costs, pain and suffering, mental anguish, home modifications, nursing care, transportation / vehicle costs, your lost present, and future wages and often compensation to the affected spouse too.
Quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia, is characterized by paralysis of all four limbs and the trunk. It typically results from injuries to the cervical region of the spinal cord, particularly the upper cervical vertebrae (C1, C2, C3, C4, & C5). Causes often include severe motor vehicle accidents, SUV and truck rollovers, gunshot wounds, falls from great heights and sports-related injuries. Quadriplegics experience significant loss of mobility and sensation throughout their body. They often require extensive medical care and assistance with daily activities.
Pursuing a personal injury lawsuit for quadriplegia can be complex due to the severity of the injury. However, if the injury resulted from another party’s negligence, you may be eligible for substantial compensation to cover medical expenses, past and future loss of income or wages, ongoing care, rehabilitation, handicapped vans, mental anguish, pain and suffering and home modifications and other losses. In many cases, the affected spouse will have a right to claim compensation and other damages.
Triplegia is a term used to describe the paralysis affecting three limbs often caused by a traumatic event. It is the paralysis of both legs and one arm or one leg and both arms.
Diplegia refers to the paralysis in both arms or both legs on the same side of the body. In cases of cerebral palsy, this neurological condition, diplegia often involves spasticity or motor impairment in the lower extremities of the person, while the upper extremities may be less affected.
Monoplegia involves the paralysis of a single limb, whether one arm or one leg. Monoplegia can have various causes, including stroke, nerve damage, or other neurological injuries affecting just one limb.
Hemiplegia is a term used to describe paralysis or severe weakness on one side of the body. It typically affects one arm and one leg on the same side. Hemiplegia is often caused strokes or certain types of brain injuries due to the disruption of blood to part of the brain, resulting in difficulty or inability to move one arm or leg on the same side of the body. Those with hemiplegia often can improve some function or use with extensive rehab and therapy.
Types of Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
Central Cord Syndrome is a type of damage or injury to the cervical region of the spinal cord and often results in more extensive impairment with the upper extremities than in the lower extremities. It is often associated with hyperextension injuries and is often caused in motor vehicle accidents (MVA), falls, and sports related activities.
Anterior Cord Syndrome involves injuries to the front or anterior part of the spinal cord that can result in impaired motor function and loss of pain and temperature sensation, while preserving touch and position sense. Trauma, surgical errors, and complications can cause anterior cord syndrome. There is also posterior cord syndrome is very rare condition involving similar sensations and awareness issues.
Brown-Sequard Syndrome results when there is damage to one side of the spinal cord. It leads to motor paralysis on one side of the body and sensory loss, loss of pain and temperature sensations on the other side. Brown-Sequard is often caused from stab wounds and gunshot wounds.
Conus Medullaris Syndrome results from injuries to the conus medullaris, the lower end of the spinal cord. It can cause a variable pattern of paralysis and sensory loss in the lower limbs and pelvic organs.
Legal Recourse for Spinal Cord Injuries
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury due to the negligence of someone else, it’s vital to understand your legal rights and options. Seeking skilled and experienced attorneys and lawyers is essential to ensure that your legal rights are protected and that you have the best possible chance of obtaining financial compensation or economic recovery for your damages.
Why Choose a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer?
As our name makes clear, at Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer we focus on representing severely injured persons who have suffered life-altering injuries, brain and spinal cord injuries due to accidents caused by the negligence of others. Our knowledgeable legal team understands the complexities of filing a lawsuit and more importantly, knows how to preserve the evidence, hire the right engineers and experts, how to prove your case and hold others legally responsible for your injuries.
Here’s why you should choose us:
No Fees or Expenses if No Recovery
Spinal cord injuries can have profound and lasting effects on a person’s life, and the road to recovery can be long and challenging. If your injury was due to the negligence of another party, you may have the right to seek compensation for your medical costs, lost income, pain, suffering and other damages via a spinal cord injury lawsuit, also known as a personal injury lawsuit, product liability lawsuit or negligence action.
At Spinal Cord Injury Attorney, we stand ready to guide you through the legal process and vigorously advocate for your rights. Take the first step toward justice and recovery by contacting us today for a free consultation to discuss your spinal cord injury case. You are not alone in this journey – not when we are here to support you every step of the way.
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