Spinal cord injury is a serious complication of spinal fractures. Spinal cord or nerves are injured because of vertebral displacement or bone chips entering spinal canal. Patients will have localized pain, restricted neck movement and lower back muscle spasms. Patients may not be able to turn over when lying in bed or cannot stand up. The motor, sensory, reflex, sphincter and autonomic functions below the level of injury may be damaged. If there is no open wound, a large dose of hormones and nerve-nutritional drugs can be used. If there is any indicator for surgery, surgery should be done. If there is open wound, the wound should be cleaned and foreign bodies and hematoma should be taken out. Vertebrae can be cut open to reduce pressure if necessary.
How is Spinal cord injury treated in practice?