Spinal cord injury; Compression of spinal cord; SCI; Cord compression

Symptoms vary somewhat depending on the location of the injury. Spinal cord injury causes weakness and sensory loss at and below the point of the injury. The severity of symptoms depends on whether the entire cord is severely injured (complete) or only partially injured (incomplete).

The spinal cord doesn't go below the 1st lumbar vertebra, so injuries at and below this level do not cause spinal cord injury. However, they may cause "cauda equina syndrome" -- injury to the nerve roots in this area.

CERVICAL (NECK) INJURIES

When spinal cord injuries occur in the neck area, symptoms can affect the arms, legs, and middle of the body. The symptoms may occur on one or both sides of the body. Symptoms can include:

• Breathing difficulties (from paralysis of the breathing muscles, if the injury is high up in the neck)
• Loss of normal bowel and bladder control (may include constipation, incontinence, bladder spasms)
• Numbness
• Sensory changes
• Spasticity (increased muscle tone)
• Pain
• Weakness, paralysis

THORACIC (CHEST LEVEL) INJURIES

When spinal injuries occur at chest level, symptoms can affect the legs:

Images

Cauda equina

Vertebra and spinal nerves

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Spinal cord trauma Overview

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Spinal cord trauma Treatment

Review Date: 06/16/2010
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)