|
A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that causes changes in its function. Injuries can occur at any level of the spinal cord and can be classified as ''complete injury'', a total loss of sensation and muscle function, or ''incomplete'', meaning some nervous signals are able to travel past the injured area of the cord. Depending on the location and severity of damage along the spinal cord, the symptoms can vary widely, from pain or numbness to paralysis to incontinence. The prognosis also ranges widely, from full recovery to permanent tetraplegia (also called quadriplegia) in injuries at the level of the neck, and paraplegia in lower injuries. Complications that can occur in the short and long term after injury include pressure sores, infections, muscle atrophy, and respiratory problems. Usually the damage results from physical trauma such as car accidents, gunshots, falls, or sports injuries, but it can also result from nontraumatic causes such as infection, insufficient blood flow, or pressure from a tumor. Efforts to prevent SCI include individual measures such as using safety equipment and societal measures such as safety regulations in sports and traffic and improvements to equipment. Treatment of spinal cord injuries starts with stabilizing the spine and controlling inflammation to prevent further damage. Other interventions needed can vary widely depending on the location and extent of the injury, from bed rest to surgery. In many cases, spinal cord injuries require substantial, long-term physical and occupational therapy in rehabilitation, especially if they interfere with activities of daily living. Known since ancient times to be a catastrophic injury and long believed to be untreatable, SCI has seen great improvements in its care since the middle of the 20th century. Research into new treatments for spinal cord injuries includes controlled hypothermia, stem cell implantation, and wearable robotic exoskeletons. ==Classification== Spinal cord injury can be traumatic or nontraumatic,〔 and can be classified into three types based on cause: mechanical forces, toxic, and ischemic (from lack of blood flow). The damage can also be divided into primary and secondary injury: the cell death that occurs immediately in the original injury, and biochemical cascades that are initiated by the original insult and cause further tissue damage. These secondary injury pathways include the ischemic cascade, inflammation, swelling, cell suicide, and neurotransmitter imbalances. They can take place for minutes or weeks following the injury.〔 The level of injury is determined by the part of the spinal cord that was damaged and corresponds to the nearest pair of spinal nerves that exit between the vertebrae. Thus injuries can be cervical 1–8 (C1–C8), thoracic 1–12 (T1–T12), lumbar 1–5 (L1–L5), or sacral (S1–S5).〔 A person's level of injury is defined as the lowest level of full sensation and function. Paraplegia occurs when the legs are affected by the spinal cord damage (in thoracic, lumbar, or sacral injuries), and tetraplegia occurs when all four limbs are affected (cervical damage). SCI is also classified by the degree of impairment. The ''International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury'' (ISNCSCI), published by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), is widely used to document sensory and motor impairments following SCI.〔 It is based on neurological responses, touch and pinprick sensations tested in each dermatome, and strength of the muscles that control key motions on both sides of the body.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Spinal cord injury」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|