A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord as a result of trauma, inducing lack of function, mobility and/or feeling in certain parts of the body. Spinal injuries are often serious conditions which have long term implications for those directly affected and also those close to them. The effects are varied and depend on the level of severity of the injury.
Up to 1,200 spinal injuries occur every year in the UK and there are approximately 40,000 people managing the effects of a spinal injury. According to statistics, those deemed most at risk are people aged between 15 and 25. Medical advances coupled with patient management at the scene of an injury mean survival rates have improved. However, injuries still often result in permanent paralysis signifying the need for a wheelchair on a full time basis and very often meaning returning to work is not an option.
Types of paralysis
Paraplegia is when a person has two limbs which are paralysed as a result of a spinal cord injury and Quadriplegia (Tetraplegia) is when all four limbs are affected.
'Complete' injuries are when total loss of sensation and movement occur below the level of the injury and 'incomplete' injuries are when there is partial loss; these can vary greatly with no two cases identical. When outlining the specific type of paralysis the below terms can be used:
• Quadriplegia, incomplete
• Paraplegia, complete
• Paraplegia, incomplete
• Quadriplegia, complete
The majority of spinal injuries are as a result of a broken neck or broken back which has resulted in damage to the spinal cord inside the spinal column. This type of injury is more commonly referred to as a 'traumatic' spinal cord injury.
Common causes of traumatic spinal cord injury
• Traumatic Spinal cord injuries account for the majority of SCIs and road traffic accidents remain the major cause worldwide. There is a diverse number of ways a road traffic accident can cause a spinal injury, with one of the primary causes being whiplash in a vehicle collision.
• Motorbikes travel at high speed and when they collide with large moving objects like trucks or coaches, this can result in different parts of the spine being damaged. For example, the lumbar spine area is the lower part of the spine, which if seriously jolted, can mean acute damage.
• Sporting injuries also contribute to the spinal injury figures with over 92 % ending in Quadriplegia. Commonly related sports are rugby, horse riding, diving (the most common), skiing, wrestling and surfing.
• Work place accidents - if your job requires a high level of physical activity then you are more at risk than others. Cracked vertebrae or slipped discs often occur in this type of working environment.
• Falling or tripping accidents can also end in spinal injury, particularly if you are an older person. Often this is not the fault of the person who has fallen but is down to the negligence of someone else.
• Medical/ clinical negligence spinal injuries are also not unheard of. Mistakes during operations do occur whether the procedure is routine or not.
In addition to traumatic spinal cord injuries, there is also the non-traumatic spinal cord injury.
This happens in the following instances:
• Interruption of blood supply to the spinal cord
• Spinal Nerve infection
• Pressure on the spinal cord because of cysts or tumours
• Congenital medical conditions affecting the make-up of the spinal cord
Compensation for Spinal Cord Injuries
UK law states that the deciding factor for compensation levels lies with the nature of the resulting spinal injury and not how the injury was caused. The amount of compensation for this type of personal injury is at the higher end of the scale because of the likelihood of serious long-term implications and costs, e.g. on-going rehabilitation.
Certain situations where high levels of compensation can be recompensed are injuries which have damaged the function of the bladder, bowel or sexual performance.
Any compensation rewarded should mirror (as much as is possible) the level of distress and affliction endured and any future losses likely, e.g. adaptation of a home, transport costs and lack of earnings.
No comments:
Post a Comment