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Last Update :
November 21 2008
 

As a person with SCI, what is your biggest hurdle surrounding the health care system?
Finding suitable primary care physician
Obtaining appropriate service at hospital
Locating attendant care services
Finding specialized home use equipment
Resources >> SCI Facts

Overview on SCI and its Consequences
 
Spine

A quick overview on spinal cord injury (SCI) and its consequences.


Paralysis is caused by injury or disease to the spinal cord and the degree of paralysis depends upon the level of injury to the spinal cord. An injury to the spinal cord can result in partial or total paralysis of two or four extremities, as well as loss of sensation and bowel and bladder control.

Many persons with a spinal cord injury still feel some sensation in the paralyzed parts of their body, or have some control of muscles below the level of injury. This will often occur in the case of an incomplete injury where the spinal cord has been mashed or partially damaged from swelling and bruising. Nerve impulses may still travel through the spinal fibres left intact if the spinal cord has not been completely severed. Consequences of an injury at a particular point on the spinal cord will vary from individual to individual.

Paraplegia is the paralysis of the lower extremities and part or all of the trunk muscles. Usually there is a loss of sensation in paralyzed limbs and other effects such as muscle spasms, pain and loss of bowel and bladder control. Paraplegia occurs when there is an impairment at or below the T1 Thoracic level.

Quadriplegia occurs when there is damage to the spinal cord in the Cervical region. This will cause impairment to the hands and arms in addition to the effects of paraplegia.

Hemiplegia is the paralysis of one side of the body as a result of a stroke or traumatic brain injury and should not be confused with paraplegia or quadriplegia. With paraplegia and quadriplegia the brain is not affected. With hemiplegia, there may be an impairment of intellect, personality, speech or senses.

Did You Know?

Incidence of Spinal Cord Injury in Canada: 35 per year per million population (not including non-deficit or fatal injuries). There are an estimated 900 Canadians who sustain a spinal cord injury each year. On average, of the newly injured clients referred to CPA each year, 80% are male, 50% are paraplegic and 50% are quadriplegic.

Causes of Spinal Cord Injury

Car Collision: 35%
Falls: 16.5%
Medical: 10.8%
Sports: 6.7%
Other Motor Vehicle Collision: 6.2%
Diving: 5.3%
Industrial: 5.3%
Other: 14.2%
 
 
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