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A spinal injury is a serious type of injury that requires emergency medical attention. Depending ont severity, it can lead to long-term or short-term paralysis, or provoke irreversible complications and even death.
The spinal cord starts at the base of the neck and runs through the entire spinal column. It is part of the CNS. Spinal injuries are commonly seen in athletes, the elderly, and those involved in car accidents.
Spine is made up of a series of interconnected bones called vertebrae forming the spinal canal, which houses the spinal cord. It acts as an “information highway” that connects the brain to the rest of the brain. systems and bodies body. Between each vertebrae are discs of cartilage that act as shock absorbers and allow the spine to show some flexibility.b, providing body mobility. The spine is divided into five regions: cervical (7 vertebrae); thoracic (12 vertebrae); lumbar (5 vertebrae); fused sacral vertebrae; small spinecalled the coccyx.
Any injury to the spine has serious consequences for the ability to function normally, and separation or “damage” to the spine can lead to quadriplegia (paralysis of both legs and arms), paraplegia (paralysis of either both legs or both arms), or chronic disease conditions depending on the location. damage. As a rule, damage to the spine, which can be irreversible or fatal, up to the level of the upper two thoracic vertebrae, it provokes the development of quadriplegia to varying degrees.
Causes and signs of spinal injury
Spinal injuries can be caused by a variety of factors, including: trauma during exercise; fall injuries, especially from a height; car crashes; lifting heavy objects that hit or fall on the back/body; any force that causes a powerful twisting of one half of the body; building collapse; gunshot wounds and domestic violence; physical violence; powerful electric shocks.
The signs and symptoms of a spinal injury depend on the severity of the injury. Symptoms are individual for each person. Among the most common symptoms and signs, it is worth noting: moderate and severe pain present in the back and neck; hematomas, heavy bleeding from the injury site; the patient cannot independently move, stand up, or walk; vertebral fractures; the edges associated with them can also be broken.
A spinal injury causes loss of control of the arms and legs, loss of bowel and bladder control.
First aid for spinal injury
First aid tips for suspected spinal injury:
- Call an ambulance if the above signs of spinal injury are observed or an accident has occurred.
- Under no circumstances should the casualty be moved if head, neck, back or injury is suspected spinal cord. It is important to avoid any movement of the head, neck or body.
- If possible, do not move the victim, so as not to provoke pain shock and complications (displacement of the vertebrae, damage to other organs by fragments of the ribs, damage to spinal cord etc.).
- If the victim is vomiting, gently move the victim to the side, while the head, neck, back, pelvis and legs should form a straight line.
- If necessary, fix the head or body of the victim with improvised materials: towels, pillows, sticks, boards, etc.
- It is important not to remove the helmet, clothing or other protective equipment from the victim – if any. It is necessary to immediately provide a person with access to oxygen.
- If the victim is not breathing, artificial respiration and chest compressions should be given to the patient. The procedure should be repeated until the ambulance arrives.
- If there is bleeding from the wounds formed after the injury, it is important to stop it. Depending on the location of the injury, apply a pressure bandage or cover the wound with a sterile cloth and press firmly with your hands.
Who should provide first aid in the presence of a spinal injury? Each person who is close to the victim can help him, but it is important that the first thing to do is call an ambulance and not try to take the patient to a medical facility on his own (any movement can be fatal).
Methods for preventing spinal injury
Let’s look at some useful tips to help prevent spinal injury.
The first tip is that it is recommended to use the appropriate ammunition to ensure safety, especially during sports. You also need to learn the rules and techniques for performing sports exercises, it is advisable to play sports under the supervision of an experienced coach.
The second tip is that before lifting weights, or if you feel discomfort in the back, it is recommended to use a special tightening bandage.
The third tip is to avoid slippery floors and steps at home and at work.
The fourth tip is to carefully monitor the actions of children during outdoor activities. You also need to select sports sections that are led by experienced and professional coaches.
Fifth advice – in no case should you drive any vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. While driving a car, a motorcycle, you must follow the rules of traffic, do not exceed the speed and not be distracted by extraneous factors: talking on the phone, quarrels with a fellow traveler, watching videos, etc.
Some people lead full and productive lives after a spinal injury, but there are serious consequences of such injuries. The vast majority of people need assistive devices such as walkers or wheelchairs to cope with their loss of mobility, and some may even be paralyzed with or without long-term rehabilitation.
The victim may need help in daily life, he will have to learn to perform tasks in different ways. Ulcers and urinary tract infections are common complications after spinal injuries. The patient must be prepared for a long and painful rehabilitation. During the recovery period, it is important to work not only with a rehabilitation surgeon, but also with a psychiatrist (after spinal injuries, people often sink into a depressed state, they lose their will to live). It is important not to leave the person with his problem alone, and support him throughout the treatment.