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Kansas car crash injuries: an accident victim’s guide to incomplete spinal cord injury

Car crash injuries are often life-changing, but perhaps the most life-changing of all accidental injuries is paralysis.
Paralysis is usually the result of a severe spinal cord injury (SCI) that causes a loss of mobility or feeling in the parts of the body below the injury. Victims of such spinal cord injuries require life long care and assistance with even the most basic of daily tasks.

The damage to the spinal cord is called a lesion. There are two types of lesions:

1. Complete spinal cord injury

2. Incomplete spinal cord injury

Complete Spinal Cord Injury

If an accident victim has a complete spinal cord injury, this means that they are paralyzed in the entire body below the lesion.

• Parapalegia refers to an injury in the thoracic, lumbar or sacral region of the spine. Parapalegics still have use of their upper bodies to some degree.

• Quadriplegia (or tetraplegia) means the lesion is on the cervical region of the spine (or in the neck). Quadriplegics have a loss of movement and sensation in the entire body.

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

An accident victim with an incomplete spinal cord injury may have sensation, but no movement; movement without sensation; movement on only one side; partial movement; or partial sensation. There are many types and degrees of incomplete spinal cord injuries. These include:

• Central Cord Syndrome

Central Cord Syndrome is a form of incomplete spinal cord injury in which some of the signals from the brain to the body are not received. The injury is characterized by loss of movement or control in the arms and hands and, to a lesser degree, in the legs. This type of injury is almost always caused by trauma and is associated with damage to the large nerve fibers that carry information directly from the brain to the spinal cord. Sensory loss below the site of the spinal injury and loss of bladder control may also occur. The severity of the paralysis and extent of the disability depends on how severely the nerves of the spinal cord are damaged.

• Brown-Sequard Syndrome (BSS)

BSS is a rare neurological condition characterized by a lesion in the spinal cord which results in weakness or paralysis (hemiparaplegia) on one side of the body and a loss of sensation (hemianesthesia) on the opposite side.

• Anterior Spinal Cord Syndrome

Anterior spinal cord syndrome or anterior spinal artery syndrome is the result of compression of the artery that runs along the front of the spinal cord. This compression may be caused by bone fragments after trauma or a large disc herniation. Patients with anterior spinal cord syndrome usually have complete loss of strength below the level of injury and incomplete sensory loss. Victims are unable to detect pain or temperatures, but may still feel vibrations and position of the limbs.

• Posterior Cord Syndrome

Posterior cord syndrome is a very rare condition caused by a lesion of the posterior portion of the spinal cord. It can be caused by an interruption to the posterior spinal artery and may present as BSS.

There is no cure for long-term paralysis. The lives of victims and their families are changed forever.

If you or a loved one has suffered a paralyzing injury as a result of a car crash, on-the-job injury, medical malpractice or other accident, contact the Kansas City personal injury lawyers at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys. Our Missouri spinal cord injury attorneys can help you make sure that all your injury-related costs are covered. Contact our office to schedule a free consultation: 888-348-2616.

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Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys
1102 Grand Blvd., Ste 1901
Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone: 816-471-5111
Toll Free: 888-348-2616
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Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys*
11900 College Boulevard, Suite 300
Overland Park, KS 66210
*By Appointment Only: Heather A. Lottmann & Victor B. Finkelstein

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Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys
1102 Grand Blvd., Ste 1901
Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone: 816-471-5111
Toll Free: 888-348-2616
Get Directions

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