Medical Health Encyclopedia

Spinal/neck injury

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N P R S T U W

Skeletal spine Vertebra, cervical (neck) Vertebra, lumbar (low back) Vertebra, thoracic (mid back) Vertebral column Central nervous system Spinal cord injury Spinal anatomy Two person roll - series

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Spinal/neck injury

Definition:

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.

Alternative Names:

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Neck/spinal injury

Considerations:

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 and 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 (like getting someone out of a burning car).

If you are in doubt about whether a person has a spinal injury, assume that he or she DOES have one.

Causes:

• Bullet or stab wound
• Direct trauma to the face, neck, head, or back (e.g., car accidents)
• Diving accident
• Electric shock
• Extreme twisting of the trunk
• Sports injury (landing on head)

References:

Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5^th Ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2002.

Townsend, Jr., CM, ed. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 17^th Ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier, 2004:498-502,1952.

DeLee JC, Drez, Jr., D, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez’s Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 2^nd Ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders;2003:798,837.

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