What is classified as a spinal injury?

A spinal cord injury — damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal (cauda equina) — often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation and other body functions below the site of the injury.

What are the 5 levels of the spinal cord?

As mentioned above, our vertebrae are numbered and divided into five regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx.

What are the different types of spinal cord injuries?

There are three types of complete spinal cord injuries: Tetraplegia. Paraplegia. Triplegia.

What is the difference between Asia C and D?

AIS Grade C injuries have a motor grade less than 3 below the neurologic level of injury while AIS Grade D injuries have a motor grade of at least 3 below the neurologic level of injury.

What are the 4 main functions of the spine?

Your spine, or backbone, is your body’s central support structure. It connects different parts of your musculoskeletal system. Your spine helps you sit, stand, walk, twist and bend.

What is a C5 C6 quadriplegic?

A C5 spinal cord injury is the second most common level of SCI, making up about 15% of all SCIs. Damage to the C5 spinal cord often results in paralysis of both the upper and lower body, otherwise known as quadriplegia.

What is a C1 ASIA Grade D?

Grade D: The impairment is incomplete. Motor function is preserved below the neurologic level, and at least half of the key muscles below the neurologic level have a muscle grade of 3 or more (i.e., the joints can be moved against gravity).

What does a C4 injury mean?

A C4 spinal cord injury occurs when damage is dealt about mid-way down the cervical spinal cord — the topmost portion of the spinal cord that is located in the neck and upper shoulders.

What does C4 C5-C6/C7 control?

C5, as mentioned earlier, along with C3 and C4, contributes to the phrenic nerve that innervates the diaphragm. Roots C5, C6, and C7 produce the long thoracic nerve, responsible for controlling the serratus anterior.

Can C5-C6 cause breathing problems?

An injury to the spinal cord at the C5-C6 level may cause pain, weakness, or paralysis in the arms and/or legs. There may be loss of bowel and bladder control or breathing problems in some cases.

Can a C5-C6 quadriplegic walk again?

Fortunately, it is possible for many SCI survivors. There is potential to walk again after SCI because the spinal cord has the ability to reorganize itself and make adaptive changes called neuroplasticity.

What does C4 and C5 affect?

The C4 myotome includes certain muscles that help in shoulder movements. The C5 spinal nerve dermatome typically includes parts of skin over the shoulder, upper arm, and forearm. The C5 myotome includes certain muscles that help in shoulder movements.

What level of spinal cord injury impairs breathing?

Generally, the higher up the level of the injury is to the spinal cord, the more severe the symptoms. For example, an injury to the neck, the first and second vertebrae in the spinal column (C1, C2), or the mid-cervical vertebrae (C3, C4, and C5) affects the respiratory muscles and the ability to breathe.

What part of your spine controls breathing?

C4 Spinal Vertebra Defined

This central portion of the spinal cord, which relates to the C4 vertebra, contains nerves that run to the diaphragm, which helps us breathe by contracting and pulling air into the lungs. The C4 vertebra is located in the neck region of the spinal column, just above the thoracic vertebrae.

What parts of the body are affected by C5-C6?

c5-c6 is one of the most common levels for a cervical disc herniation to occur. A c5-c6 herniated disc can affect the nerves that control the muscles in the arms, neck, shoulders, hands as well as the head, eyes, ears, or thyroid gland.

What level of SCI requires ventilation?

Long term ventilation may be required with high cervical (C3 and above) spinal cord injury. Injuries below C3 may or may not require ventilatory support, while patients with injuries below C5 may be able to breathe independently of continuous ventilator support.

What happens if T7 is damaged?

In general, a patient with a fractured T7 would experience pain when moving, and have difficulty standing for long periods. Patients with associated rib fractures may sometimes even have pain with breathing (particularly when taking big breaths).