September Is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month
A spinal cord injury severely alters the life of the person injured. It can also impact the lives of their friends and family. September is spinal cord injury awareness month. Awareness helps foster education about spinal cord injuries. Here we will discuss spinal cord injuries and their common causes.
The most common cause of a spinal cord injury is a motor vehicle accident. If you or a loved one are a victim in a motor vehicle accident you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer can help you protect your rights. The team at Anthem Injury Lawyers is experienced at handling all types of complex issues, including spinal cord injuries and many other personal injury cases, such as traumatic brain injuries, and wrongful death. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
For a free legal consultation, call (702) 857-6000
The Spinal Cord
The spinal cord divides into four sections: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral. Each section protects different groups of nerves that control the body. The type and severity of spinal cord injury depends on which section of the spine is injured.
Cervical Spine
The cervical spine is the top section of the spine. Cervical spine injuries are typically the most severe and affect the head and neck. Cervical spine injuries can have the most severe results including total paralysis, loss of body functions, quadriplegia, or paraplegia.
Thoracic Spine
The thoracic spine is the upper and middle part of the back. Thoracic spine injuries affect the upper chest, mid-back, and abdominal muscles. Injury usually results in paraplegia.
Lumbar Spine
The lumbar spine is the lowest major portion of the spinal cord. The lumbar spine carries the most weight of any of the sections of the spine. Lumbar spine injuries affect the hips and legs. People with injuries to the lumbar spinal cord have little or no voluntary control of their bowel or bladder.
Sacral Spine
The sacral spine is below the lumbar spine and above the tailbone. The nerves in the sacral region control the pelvic organs. These organs include the bladder, bowel, and sex organs. Injuries generally result in some loss of function in the hips and legs. There may be little or no voluntary control of bowel or bladder organs. People with a sacral spinal cord injury will most likely be able to walk.
Spinal cord injuries are serious injuries. Many spinal cord injuries result from car accidents. If a car accident injures you, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. An experienced personal injury lawyer will work aggressively to protect your rights and help you receive maximum compensation. As a personal injury expert your attorney will represent you against an insurance company that is dedicated to fighting your claim. Our lawyers fight for you and bring you the benefit of their years of experience working on personal injury cases. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury is an injury to the spinal cord that results in temporary or permanent changes in the spinal cord’s normal motor, sensory, or autonomic function. People who sustain a spinal cord injury often have permanent and profound neurological deficits and accompanying disability.
The spinal cord is the largest nerve and the pathway for messages traveling between the brain and the rest of the body. After a spinal cord injury, all the nerves above the level of injury keep working normally. At the level of injury, messages are blocked from being transmitted from above that level to below the level of injury.
Complete and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries
There are two types of spinal cord injuries – complete and incomplete.
A complete spinal cord injury causes permanent damage to the affected area of the spinal cord. Complete spinal cord injuries result in either:
- Paralysis of the legs and lower body (paraplegia) or
- Paralysis of all four limbs and the torso (quadriplegia)
An incomplete spinal cord injury refers to partial damage to the spinal cord. The ability to move and the amount of feeling depends on the area of the spine injured and the severity of the injury.
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury from an accident that was not your fault, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. Anthem Injury Lawyers is a team of experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyers and case managers. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 for a free consultation.
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Spinal Cord Injury Facts and Figures
The National Spinal Cord Injury Database is a prospective longitudinal multicenter study. It currently captures data from an estimated 6 percent of new spinal cord injury cases in the United States.
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center’s Facts and Figures at a Glance 2020 provides the following spinal cord injury statistics:
Incidence
A recent estimate showed that the annual incidence of spinal cord injury is approximately 54 cases per one million people in the United States. That is about 17,810 new spinal cord injury cases each year.
Prevalence
The estimated number of people with a spinal cord injury living in the United States is approximately 294,000 persons.
Age at Injury
The average age at injury has increased from 29 years during the 1970s to 43 since 2015.
Gender
About 78 percent of new spinal cord injury cases are male.
Lengths of Stay
Lengths of stay in the hospital acute care unit have declined from 24 days in the 1970s to 11 days recently. Rehabilitation lengths of stay have also declined from 98 days in the 1970s to 31 days recently.
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Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Every spinal cord injury is unique. However, many spinal cord injuries have common causes. Discussing these common causes during spinal cord injury awareness month helps with education and prevention. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common causes of spinal cord injuries in the United States are:
Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Accidents
Auto and motorcycle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for almost half of new spinal cord injuries each year.
Falls
A spinal cord injury after age 65 is most often caused by a fall. Overall, falls cause about 31 percent of spinal cord injuries.
Acts of Violence
Over 13 percent of spinal cord injuries result from violent encounters, most commonly involving gunshot wounds.
Sports and Recreation Injuries
Athletic activities, such as impact sports and diving in shallow water, cause about 10 percent of spinal cord injuries.
Alcohol
Alcohol use is a factor in about 1 out of every 4 spinal cord injuries.
Diseases
Cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, and inflammation of the spinal cord also can cause spinal cord injuries.
We hope this spinal cord injury awareness month is informative. If you suffer a spinal cord injury from an accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer.
EXPERIENCED LAS VEGAS PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
Have you suffered a spinal cord injury from an accident? Was it the fault of someone else? If so, you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer can give you legal advice and help protect your rights. Our Las Vegas legal team understands that being an accident victim can be one of the most difficult things you will ever face. As you deal with injuries and wonder how to navigate the system, it is imperative that you consult with an experienced lawyer. The benefit of our years of experience representing personal injury victims in the Las Vegas area is invaluable as you seek to gain maximum compensation for your injuries.
Our personal injury lawyers handle all types of motor vehicle accident cases including: car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and bus accidents. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers today at (702) 857-6000 for a free consultation. We can come to you if your injuries are too severe to allow you to visit our Las Vegas area law offices.
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