Your spinal cord contains the nerves that carry messages between your brain and body.  The cord passes through your neck and back.  A spinal cord injury is very serious because it can cause paralysis below the site of the injury.  Spinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord that results from direct injury to the cord itself or from indirect injury from damage to the bones, soft tissues, and blood vessels surrounding the spinal cord.  When someone has a spinal injury, additional movement may cause further damage to the nerves in the cord and can sometimes mean the difference between life or death.  If you think someone could possibly have a spinal injury, DO NOT move the injured person, even a little bit, unless it is absolutely necessary, such as getting someone out of a burning car.  If you are unsure if the person has a spinal injury, assume they do.

Spinal trauma can be caused by any number of injuries to the spine.  They can result from motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries, industrial accidents, gunshot wounds, assault, and others.  A seemingly minor injury can cause trauma if the spine is weakened, such as from arthritis or osteoporosis.  Sometimes, due to ageing, the canal protecting the spinal cord has become too narrow.  Direct injury cuts can occur to the spinal cord, particularly if the bones or the discs have been damaged.  Fragments of bone from fractured vertebrae or fragments of metal, as occur in traffic accidents, can cut or damage the cord.  Damage can also occur if the spinal cord is pulled, pressed sideways, or compressed.  Bleeding, fluid accumulation, and swelling can occur inside the spinal cord or outside the spinal cord, but within the spinal canal.  This accumulation of fluid can compress the cord and damage it. 

Spinal cord injuries occur in approximately 15,000 people per year in the U.S.  About 10,000 of these suffer permanent paralysis and many of the rest die as a result of their injuries.  Most occur in young, healthy individuals.  Males between 15 and 35 are the most common.  The fatality rate is very high in children with spinal injuries.

Symptoms vary somewhat depending on the location of the injury.  Varying degrees of weakness and sensory loss at or below the injury are seen.  It will depend whether the entire cord is injured or only partially.  Injuries occurring in the neck can affect both arms and legs and cause weakness, paralysis, breathing difficulties, spasms, numbness, pain, and loss of bowel and bladder control.  They may result in abnormal blood pressure and trouble maintaining proper body temperature.  The end result may be death. Signs and symptoms may develop immediately or gradually after the accident as fluid accumulates around the spinal cord or swelling within the cord itself.

Spinal cord trauma is a true medical emergency requiring immediate treatment to reduce long term effects or more damage.  REMEMBER, DO NOT MOVE SOMEONE YOU SUSPECT HAS A SPINAL CORD INJURY.  The time between the injury and treatment is a critical factor affecting the eventual outcome.  If you think someone has injured their spinal cord in an accident, do not waste time.  Call and request the nearest EMS service at once.  Emergency medical personnel are trained to deal with these emergencies with the least amount of damage to the patient.  They are trained in immobilizing the injured spine to prevent further damage to the nervous system.