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Spinal cord injury, or SCI, can be classified as complete or incomplete, according to New York Spinal Injury Lawyers. A complete spinal cord injury is one that causes permanent paralysis. Incomplete means the injury has the potential of neurologic improvement. Almost half of all spinal cord injuries are complete, which means total loss of motor and sensory function at and below the level of the injury. In general, complete spinal cord injuries in the thoracic region of the spine (mid to upper back), result in paralysis of the lower extremities, or paraplegia.
Incomplete SCI has varied neurologic aspects. There are three major syndromes that occur with thoracic spine fractures, New York Spinal Injury Lawyers have discovered. These are anterior cord syndrome, Brown-Sequard syndrome, and central cord syndrome.
Anterior cord syndrome causes a loss of motor function and pain and/or a feeling of heat from injury to the front (anterior) or the spinal cord. The limbs are still fully functional because sensory input remains. Doctors in The Bronx and Manhattan have to treat these injuries with great care and attention.
Injury to the right or left side of the spinal cord can cause Brown-Sequard syndrome, which may cause difficulty of movement on the injured side and the inability to feel pain and temperature on the uninjured side.
Central cord syndrome results from damage to the central spinal cord, resulting in weakness, especially in the upper extremities, with varied affects to the sensory abilities of the victim. It more commonly happens in the very low reaches of the spine, but it can happen in the thoracic regions as well.
NY City Spinal Injury Lawyers have also seen spinal concussions that cause swelling of the spinal cord, which can cause similar problems to those above – these symptoms generally pass in 1 to 2 days.
The Office of Stephen Bilkis and Associates can offer you support and guidance as well as a free consultation when you contact us at 1-800-NY-NY-LAW. We have offices in N York City, including Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island and The Bronx and in Nassau County, Suffolk County and Westchester County.