The spine performs an important function: it supports the trunk in an upright position and is a key link in the musculoskeletal system. Any injury to the spine and spinal cord can have serious consequences for the entire body. Various injuries of the spinal column account for more than 10% of all back injuries. They are common in mature people regardless of gender. Sometimes back problems also occur in children, but, as a rule, such injuries are characteristic of the cervical region and are classified as birth injuries. In women, spinal injuries have recently become much less common due to the fact that the number of women in labor who gave birth to children by caesarean section has significantly increased.
Reasons
Spinal cord injuries are an extremely serious type of musculoskeletal disorder. Most often, spinal injuries occur as a result of excessively strong loads and impacts on it. This may be a fall from a height, careless diving to a depth, the collapse of heavy loads on a person, accidents and other car accidents.road accidents. Sometimes the type of injury can be determined by the nature of the physical impact on the spinal column. For example, in car accidents, the most common injury is the cervical spine, and when falling from a height, fractures of the sacral or lower thoracic spine are more common.
Problems with the spinal cord have a different character. In adults, as a rule, spinal injuries occur due to external forces acting on various parts of the back. Age-related damage, such as cartilage wear, can lead to narrowing of the spinal canal and development of stenosis. This leads to pressure on the spinal cord and spinal nerves and, as a result, a violation of their functionality. Childhood injuries are more likely to occur when the spinal cord is stretched too hard or abruptly.
Types of spinal injuries
Signs of a spinal injury depend on its type and nature. Types of all possible injuries are divided into bruises, ruptures, fractures, dislocations and compression. They directly affect the method of recovery and treatment, as well as the consequences of the disease and the speed of the patient's recovery.
- A fracture of the cervical spine is a violation of the integrity of the bones, in contrast to a dislocation, which is characterized by an incorrect alignment of the vertebrae along its axis. These injuries can lead to spinal cord injury. A compression fracture occurs due to a strong compression of the vertebral body in certain parts of the spine, in which part of it moves forward and down. AtIn this case, the intervertebral discs may be displaced and protrude into the spinal canal. The injury is most common in car accidents or when the body is pushed forward.
- When a dislocation occurs, the ligaments are torn or severely stretched. Such damage can "lock" the vertebrae on top of each other on one or both sides of the spinal column. Problems with the spinal cord can occur depending on how mobile the torn ligaments are. To restore the functionality of the vertebrae, the patient may need surgery.
- Paraplegia occurs due to damage to the lower thoracic spine through a bruise.
- Quadripplegia also occurs due to contusion, in which the upper thoracic and cervical vertebrae are negatively affected. Such spinal injuries lead to loss of mobility in all limbs.
Cervical injuries: features
The cervical spine is very susceptible to damage and injury. About 20% of all injuries of the spinal column occur in this area, more than 35% of them are fatal. Damage to the cervical spine occurs due to the fact that during a sharp blow, the head and torso of a person move in opposite directions.
Cervical injuries are very serious and dangerous. Of all the known types of such injuries characteristic of this part of the spinal column, the most common is a fracture of the cervical spine, or "whiplash" injury. howas a rule, it occurs in drivers or passengers who have been in a car accident. During the sudden braking of the vehicle, a sharp inertia shock is transmitted to all people in the cab. Injury of the cervical spine is characterized by sharp acute pain, limited motor function of the neck, dizziness, loss of consciousness.
Injuries to the spine in the chest and lower back
Quite often the thoracic spine and lumbar are subjected to various kinds of injuries. The most common fractures are those that occur as a result of a fall from a height or a car accident. In addition, older people are also at risk of damage to these departments due to the development of age-related osteoporosis. Damage to the spinal cord can be caused due to a severe fracture of the spine.
When the thoracic spine is damaged, a person experiences moderate to severe back pain that is aggravated by movement. If the spinal cord is affected, then numbness of the extremities, their tingling, weakness and inability to control the functioning of the bladder and intestines are added to the symptoms. The most common injuries to the thoracic and lumbar spine are:
- Intervertebral joint sprain of vertebral joints. It occurs when the vertebrae are forced to move forward or backward. Increased pain increases with forward or reverse movement of the spine.
- Muscle tear is a common back injury formany sports, when sudden movements can injure the muscular corset and the spine itself. Photos of such injuries obtained with the help of a tomograph make it possible to determine the degree of their severity. Signs of the disease include acute pain when bending, bending the body back and forth and rotating.
- Dislocations of the costovertebral joints, which occur either as a result of forced movement of the vertebrae in the thoracic region, or as a result of inflammation from arthritis. In this case, the pain intensifies during coughing, sneezing, deep chest breathing.
- Fractures are very common in contact sports, falls or accidents. The pain persists for quite a long time and appears even with a slight turn of the body.
- Scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, is also a serious injury. Symptoms of the disease are not always present and can often vary from case to case.
Birth injuries of the spine
Problems with the back in children are most often characterized as birth injuries of the cervical spine. One defect is infantile spina bifida, in which the vertebrae do not completely enclose raw nerves. Often a similar defect occurs in the lumbosacral region, but there are exceptions. Damage to the cervical spine during childbirth occurs in 40% of cases and is often accompanied by birth traumatic brain injury. The reason for this is the following situations:
- discrepancy between the size of the head of the fetus and maternalpelvis;
- mal presentation of the fetus in the uterine cavity;
- large fruit (over 4500 g);
- preterm pregnancy;
- oligohydramnios (oligohydramnios) and other congenital pathologies.
Despite the severity of the injury, spina bifida in children generally has a favorable prognosis when localized in the lumbosacral region. During the period of active growth, the child does not experience discomfort in the back, but for this, parents must monitor his nutrition and weight. An increase in body weight will cause pressure on the underformed vertebrae, which will aggravate the disease. There are a number of problems with a neck injury. Such children often have problems with academic performance, suffer from a memory disorder, and it is difficult for them to concentrate their attention on a subject. Sometimes a cleft can cause paralysis, leg weakness, abnormal eye movements, orthopedic problems, and more.
Spinal cord injury
Sometimes, with a spinal injury, damage extends to the spinal cord. This can occur due to external influences such as severe bruising, compression or fracture of the cervical spine, although damage can occur anywhere in the spinal column.
Spinal cord injury is usually indicated by the following signs:
- numbness or tingling in limbs;
- pain and stiffness in the area of spinal injury;
- signs of shock;
- inability to move limbs;
- loss of urinary control;
- loss of consciousness;
- unnatural head positioning.
Spinal cord problems are often the result of unpredictable accidents or violence. The causes of injury are usually:
- fall;
- diving in shallow water (derived from hitting the bottom);
- injuries after a car accident;
- falling from a height;
- TBI during sporting events;
- Injury caused by electrical current.
First aid for spinal injuries
The consequences of spinal injuries can be quite serious, so it is very important to be able to provide first aid to the victim in a timely and correct manner. Any damage to the spinal column is considered complex, dangerous and requires immediate hospitalization. First aid for a spinal injury depends on the nature and degree of damage due to its large extent, structural complexity and functional significance. The consequences for the body after an acute impact injury directly depend on how skillfully the person providing first aid in a difficult situation behaves.
Measures to assist the victim after a spinal injury include:
- immediate call for an ambulance;
- providing the victim with a hard, level surface;
- ensuring complete immobility of the victim, even if he believes that he can move independently;
- artificial respiration in the absence of it. Whereinyou can’t tilt the victim’s head back, but rather try to push his lower jaw forward.
Diagnosis
When the victim is taken to the hospital, doctors will examine him and conduct a complete neurological examination to determine the nature and location of the injury. The most popular diagnostic methods include X-ray of the spine.
If the spine is damaged, an x-ray photo will show the location of the injury and help determine its nature. If a more detailed examination is needed, as well as to detect spinal cord injuries, magnetic resonance and computed tomography and a number of tests to determine the speed of transmission of nerve signals to the brain are used.
Treatment of spinal injuries
Unfortunately, there is no way to reverse spinal cord injury. However, there are advanced therapies that promote nerve cell regeneration, improve nerve function, and regenerate the body.
If a spinal injury occurs, treatment focuses on preventing further progression of the disease and empowering the victim. He is taken to the intensive care unit, where the patient will be offered drugs, surgical or experimental treatment by prescribing physiotherapy. Medicines are used to treat acute forms of damage to the spinal cord and spine. To stabilize the spinal column and bring it into the correct position, you will need a speci althrust. In some cases, the patient's neck is fixed with a rigid collar. A special bed can also help immobilize the body.
In cases of severe damage to the spine, surgery may be required to remove fragments of crushed bones and other foreign objects. In addition, surgical care is necessary for herniated discs or possible compression of individual vertebrae. These activities are important to stabilize the spinal axis in order to prevent pain and deformities.
The goal of physical therapy for patients with spinal cord and spinal cord injuries is to optimize the quality of life by increasing physical capacity. The physiotherapy program is designed to increase each patient's ability to achieve an optimal level of spinal function. It includes the following principles:
- Assessment of major violations and their severity.
- Restricting the activities of the victim.
- Development of physiological measures and control over the implementation of procedures.
Physiotherapy intervention is the most effective method in managing handicap, motor and sensory impairments.
When the victim's condition stabilizes, he will need a course of rehabilitation, the purpose of which is to preserve and strengthen existing muscle functions, fine motor skills and motor skills training. Rehabilitation measures can prevent possible complications after an injury and improve the quality of life.
Prevention
Unfortunately, injuries to the spine and spinal cord are unpredictable, but anyone can prevent misfortune if they follow simple safety measures.
- Always fasten your seat belts when driving.
- Wear appropriate protective equipment when playing sports.
- Do not dive in poorly explored areas.
- Engage in strengthening the muscular corset to provide proper support for the spine.
- Do not drink alcohol while driving.
