A spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when trauma or compression disrupts the spinal cord’s ability to send signals, causing weakness, sensory loss, or impaired bowel, bladder, or respiratory function.
What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord from trauma, compression, inflammation, or disease. It immediately affects motor function, sensation, and autonomic control below the level of injury.
SCI most commonly results from motor vehicle accidents (≈50%), followed by falls, sports injuries, and violence. In Minnesota and Wisconsin, severe spine trauma often presents with:
- Weakness or paralysis
- Loss of sensation
- Impaired bowel or bladder control
- Difficulty breathing (cervical injuries)
For related spine conditions, see Conditions & Treatments.
Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injury symptoms appear immediately after trauma and depend on the level and severity of the injury.
Common symptoms include:
- Muscle weakness or paralysis in arms, legs, or both
- Loss of sensation (numbness, tingling, reduced temperature perception)
- Bowel and bladder dysfunction
- Respiratory difficulty in cervical injuries
- Severe spine pain or inability to move the neck/back
- Loss of reflexes or abnormal reflex responses
If symptoms follow trauma, treat the spine as unstable until imaging confirms safety.
Causes of Spinal Cord Injury
Major causes include:
- Motor vehicle accidents (largest percentage of SCIs)
- Falls, especially in older adults
- Sports injuries (diving, high-impact sports)
- Violence
- Compression from tumors, infection, or severe disc herniation
- Inflammation or spinal cord swelling
Related spine conditions include disc degeneration and herniated disc injuries requiring discectomy.
How Spinal Cord Injuries Are Diagnosed
SCI is a medical emergency. Diagnosis focuses on preventing secondary spinal damage.
Standard evaluation includes:
- CT scans for fractures
- MRI for cord compression, edema, or hematoma
- Neurological exam (motor, sensory, reflex testing)
- Assessment of respiratory function in cervical-level injuries
If compression contributes to injury, related procedures such as artificial disc replacement or kyphoplasty may be recommended.
Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Options
Treatment for spinal cord injury focuses on stabilization, preventing further cord damage, and improving functional outcomes.
Emergency Care (Pre-Hospital + Trauma Center)
Immediate steps include:
- Immobilizing the spine using a rigid collar and backboard
- Transporting in a lying (recumbent) position
- Avoiding any unnecessary movement
- Providing breathing support if the neck is involved
Severe cervical injuries may require intubation due to respiratory compromise.
Hospital-Based Management
Treatment may include:
- Surgical decompression to relieve pressure
- Stabilization and fusion procedures
- Medical management to control inflammation
- Rehabilitation for mobility, strength, and nerve recovery
Patients with complex trauma benefit from evaluation by spine surgeons experienced in SCI.
Expert Spinal Trauma Care in Minnesota & Wisconsin
Our Minnesota spine trauma specialists provide comprehensive SCI evaluation and management across multiple Twin Cities locations.
Your surgical care team includes board-certified specialists such as:
- Glenn R. Buttermann, M.D. – spine deformity & trauma
- Eric S. Nussbaum, M.D. – complex neurovascular surgery
- Stefano Sinicropi, M.D. – minimally invasive spine surgery
- Todd E. Jackman, M.D. – spine surgery
- Michael A. Finn, M.D. – neurosurgery & advanced spine surgery
- Meysam A. Kebriaei, M.D. – adult & pediatric neurosurgery
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the most common cause of spinal cord injury?
Motor vehicle accidents cause the highest percentage of SCIs, followed by falls and sports injuries.
How do I know if someone has a spinal cord injury?
Assume SCI if there is trauma plus weakness, numbness, severe pain, or loss of bowel/bladder control. Immobilize the spine and call emergency services immediately.
Why do cervical spinal cord injuries affect breathing?
The cervical spinal cord controls the diaphragm. Damage above C5 can impair breathing and require assisted ventilation.
Can spinal cord injuries improve?
Some patients experience partial recovery with early stabilization, decompression surgery, and structured rehabilitation. Outcomes vary depending on the level and severity of injury.
What imaging is best for diagnosing spinal cord injury?
CT identifies fractures; MRI shows spinal cord compression, swelling, hematoma, and soft-tissue injury.