Spinal Cord Trauma
What is it?
Spinal cord trauma occurs when an injury or accident affect the spine. The spinal cord can be injured due to a car accident, an assault, a sports injury, or any number of other ways. The spinal cord can be injured by a direct blow or by damage to surrounding bones, tissues, or blood vessels. Most spinal cord trauma occurs in young, healthy people and is most common in adolescent and young adult males. Parents can lower the risk of spinal cord trauma by making sure children wear protective gear during play and sports activities and by teaching children not to dive into shallow water.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms may include:
- Pain
- Weakness
- Abnormal sweating
- Paralysis
- Numbness or tingling
- Breathing problems
- Problems with bowel or bladder control
- Spasms or continuous contractions in muscles of the arms or legs
- Fluctuating blood pressure
- Trouble maintaining a normal body temperature
Symptoms may appear immediately or may develop more slowly as swelling and fluid retention build.
How is it treated?
A spinal injury is a medical emergency and must be treated immediately. Because symptoms may develop slowly, it’s important to err on the side of caution and seek immediate medical attention if a spinal cord injury is suspected. If you suspect a spinal cord injury, call 911. Do not move the child. Use heavy, rolled towels or other items on either side of the head to keep the head and neck as still as possible until the emergency medical crew arrives.
Physicians will order tests, such as an X-ray, CT scan or MRI of the spine, to determine the extent of any damage. If a spinal cord injury is suspected, your child may be put in traction (to immobilize the spine) and prescribed medications. In some cases, surgery can help stabilize the spine and prevent future pain and deformity.
About surgery for spinal cord trauma at Children’s
The neurosurgery team at Children’s provides next-generation care to neonatal infants, newborns, children, and adolescents from throughout the Upper Midwest. The team provides some of the most cutting-edge treatments available, including newborn surgery, surgery utilizing intra-operative MRI, and grid placement surgery for epilepsy. Neurosurgery is performed at Children’s - Minneapolis and Children’s - St. Paul.
If you are a family member looking for a Children’s specialist in neurosurgery, visit Find a Doctor.
If you are a health professional looking for a consultation or referral information, please call Children's Physician Access at 1-866-755-2121 (toll-free).
Return to Children’s neurosurgery home page.
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