Spinal Cord Injuries

Posted on July 26, 2009

A spinal cord injury can be the result of a sudden blow to the spine that fractures or dislocates the vertebrae. When bone fragments or ligaments bruise and tear the spinal cord, a devastating injury can be the result. Although it is rare that the spinal cord is actually severed, injuries to the spinal cord are life-altering and life-threatening.

Spinal cord injuries are categorized as complete or incomplete. An incomplete spinal cord injury means the spinal cord still has some function and victims of this type of injury retain some motor or sensory functions. A complete spinal cord injury means there is a total loss of motor or sensory function below the level of the injury. Emergency medical treatment at the time of the injury and aggressive care and rehabilitation can minimize the damage to the nervous system and restore limited abilities in some cases, but there is no doubt an injury to the spinal cord is considered a catastrophic injury.

Spinal cord injuries have many and varied causes from automobile accident injuries to falls, sport-related injuries and criminal assaults. The emotional, physical and financial toll on the victims and their loved ones is immeasurable. The financial cost of medical treatment and continuing care for victims of a spinal cord injury can total hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a spinal cord injury, please contact the expert spinal cord injury attorneys at Weiss & Paarz, P.C. today located in the New Jersey and metropolitan Philadelphia area.