Spinal cord injury is a medical condition that results in loss of function of the brain or spinal cord. This is a serious condition that is very painful and can cause life-threatening complications. The symptoms of spinal cord injury vary depending on the type of injury and how it occurred. Some of the common symptoms include weakness, loss of balance, problems with walking, and loss of sensations of taste, sight and touch. In addition to the physical symptoms, patients may experience psychological problems, such as numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, depression, anxiety, and confusion. There are also a number of treatments available to help improve the quality of life for victims of spinal cord injury.
Treatment goals
A spinal cord injury affects many different aspects of a person’s life. It can limit a person’s ability to move, breathe, or feel. Those with spinal cord injuries need to learn to live with the limitations and develop new skills.
Goal setting is an important aspect of the initial SCI/D rehabilitation process. Whether your goal is to return to work, be able to drive, or perform an everyday task, the outcome is dependent on your specific needs.
The most important goals in this case are to minimize complications and promote functional independence. This is achieved by focusing on neuroplasticity.
There are many treatment options available to assist a person with a spinal cord injury. Some treatments include massage, epidural injections, and Botox injections. These are used to reduce spasticity, improve circulation, and improve muscle strength.
Neuroplasticity
After spinal cord injury, the brain can undergo a variety of plastic events. Each process relates to changes in somatotopic organization. This includes the formation of axons, lysosomes, and perineuronal nets. It is important to note that the entire process is highly dependent on molecular chemistry.
Neural plasticity is one of the most intriguing topics for neuroscientists and patients alike. Many studies have been conducted to fill in the gaps in our understanding. The human race has had high hopes for the structural repair of damaged CNS. But as it turns out, it takes a bit longer to do the job.
Neuroplasticity has been shown to be a major driving force behind functional recovery after a spinal cord injury. However, a large number of factors contribute to the recovery process. Some of these are pathological, others are intrinsic.
Secondary damage
Inflammation plays a vital role in secondary damage after spinal cord injury. This is an important area of research for clinicians because it can affect the morphological recovery and motor function of SCI patients. There are two main inflammatory pathways in the spinal cord. These are cytokine activation and microglia-mediated inflammation. Understanding the cellular mechanisms involved in inflammation and its progression is an important step in developing new therapies for SCI.
Microglia are cells that constantly respond to extracellular signals and phagocytize damaged cells. They are key players in the inflammatory process, which promotes apoptosis and neuronal degeneration.
After spinal cord injury, cellular damage results from the combination of inflammatory and vascular changes. The inflammatory response causes the formation of a cavity within the spinal parenchyma. The glia, oligodendrocytes, and neurons in the injured spinal cord are killed.
Healthcare costs and morbidity
One of the major causes of morbidity and health care costs worldwide is spinal cord injury (SCI). Spinal cord injury is a sudden loss of mobility and often results in severe motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction. The effects of SCI are immediate and can be permanent. Because of this, it is essential to identify factors that may influence the development of complications, and develop prevention strategies.
This study aimed to investigate trends in in-hospital mortality and associated surgical procedures among adults with traumatic SCI. It was performed on a population of 1,386 patients who were hospitalized for acute traumatic spinal cord injury.
In-hospital mortality was lower in patients who underwent surgery than in those who did not. Surgical patients also had a shorter median time to death than those who did not undergo surgery.
