Understanding Spinal Cord Injury People with Spinal Cord Injury What is it? The spinal cord is the nerve centre of our body, spanning about 45cm that runs down the middle of the back to the waist. It contains a bundle of nerves that carry messages back and forth from the brain to the body. What happens? When a spinal cord injury occurs, it disrupts the sensation and movement signals between the body and brain. This result in a temporary or permanent loss of function, paralysis and loss of sensation.
Spinal cord injuries can be complete or incomplete. A complete injury means you are paralysed below the injury while an incomplete injury allows you to have some movement and sensation below the injury. What are the effect? • Loss of movement. • Loss of sensation. • Loss of bowel and/or bladder control. • Pain or intense stinging sensation. • Excessive reflex actions or spasms. • Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity and fertility.
Level of injury and Intact body movement
Head & neck only.
C4
Head & neck normal. Some movement in the shoulders. Head & neck normal. Good shoulder control. Some movement in elbow & forearm.
C5
Head, neck & shoulder normal. Some movement in elbow, forearm & wrist.
C7
Head, neck, shoulder, elbow & wrist movement normal. Some finger movement.
C8 - T1
Lumbar vertebrae
Head, neck, shoulder, elbow & wrist movement normal. Some finger & thumb movement.
T2 - T12
Sacral vertebrae
Normal upper limbs. Function depends on the amount of trunk control.
L1 - S5
Cauda Equina Injury. Some movement of legs may be possible. Bladder & bowels can still be affected.
T1 - T12
C6
L1 - L5
Cervical vertebrae
C1 – 3
S1 - S5
C1 – C8
Level of Intact body injury movement
Thoracic vertebrae
Coccygeal vertebrae
Yishun Health is a network of medical institutions and health facilities of the National Healthcare Group. Admiralty Medical Centre • (65) 6807 8000 • www.admiraltymedicalcentre.com.sg Khoo Teck Puat Hospital • (65) 6555 8000 • www.ktph.com.sg Yishun Community Hospital • (65) 6807 8800 • www.yishuncommunityhospital.com.sg The information is correct at the time of printing and subject to revision without further notice.
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