As an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), when someone has a spinal injury, additional movement may cause further damage to the spine. EMT?s must always immobilize the patient?s head and torso in the position found. The purpose of an EMT is to prevent further harm to the patient until more professional medical help can be obtained. If in doubt about whether a person has received a spinal injury, always assume he or she has. A spinal spinal cord Injury">cord injury (SCI) is very serious because it can mean the loss of sensation and function in the parts of the body below the site of the injury. SCI?s are caused in many different ways. Some of the most common ways a person may obtain a SCI are- motor vehicle accidents, bullet or stab wound, diving accidents, electric shock, awkward positioning of the body, falls, sports injuries (such as football or diving), industrial accidents, assault and gunshot wounds. Polio, Spina Bifida and Friedreich?s Ataxia are some of the frequent diseases that cause SCI. SCI may also be know in other names such as spinal cord compression (SCC) and spinal cord trauma (SCT).
According to an article in , SCI?s occur in approximately 12,000 to 15,000 people per year in the U.S. About 10,000 of these people are permanently paralyzed, and many of the rest die as a result of their injuries. Most spinal cord trauma occurs to young, healthy individuals. Males between the ages of 15 and 35 are most commonly affected. The spinal cord is about 18 inches long and extends from the base of the brain, down the middle of the back, to about the waist. It is composed of 33 bones called vertebrae, 31 pairs of nerves, 40 muscles and numerous connecting tendons and ligaments running from the base of the skull to the tailbone. Between the vertebrae are fibrous, elastic cartilage called discs. These absorb shock and keep your spine flexible and cushion The nerves that lie within the spinal cord are upper motor neurons (UMN?s) and their function is to carry the messages back and forth from the brain to the spinal nerves along the spinal tract. The spinal nerves that branch out from the spinal cord to the other parts of the body are called lower motor neurons (LMN?s).
The Essay on A Case of Spinal Cord Injury
1.Describe the functional anatomy of the spinal cord using the following terms: white matter, gray matter, tracts, roots and spinal nerves. The spinal cord consists of a superficial White matter and a deep Gray matter. The white matter consists of myelinated axons, which form nerve tracts and the Gray matter consists of neuron cell bodies, dendrites and axons. The white matter in each half of the ...
These spinal nerves exit and enter at each vertebral level and communicate with specific areas of the body. The sensory portions of the LMN carry messages about sensation from the skin and other body parts and organs to the brain. The motor portions of the LMN send messages from the brain to the various body parts to begin actions such as muscle movement. The brain and the spinal cord both make up the Central Nervous System. Motor and sensory nerves outside the central nervous system make up the Peripheral Nervous System and another diffuse system of nerves that control involuntary functions such as blood pressure and temperature regulation are the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Rings of bone called vertebra surround the spinal cord, and these bones make up the spinal column or backbones. Most often, the higher in the spinal column the injury occurs, the more dysfunction a person will experience. The vertebras are named according to their location. The 8 vertebra in the neck are called the Cervical Vertebra. The top vertebra is called C-1; the next is C-2, and etc. Cervical SCI?s usually cause loss of function in the arms and legs, resulting in quadriplegia. The 12 vertebra in the chest are called the Thoracic Vertebra.
The first is called the T-1 and it?s where the top rib attaches. Injuries to this region usually affect the chest and the legs and result in paraplegia. The vertebra in the lower back between the thoracic and the pelvis, are called the Lumbar Vertebra. The sacral vertebras run from the pelvis to the end of the spinal column. Injuries to the 5 Lumbar vertebra and similarly to the 5 sacral vertebra generally result in some loss of functioning in the hips and legs. The effects of SCI depend on the type of injury and the level of the injury. SCI can be divided into two types of injury- complete and incomplete. A complete injury means that there is no function below the level of the injury, no sensation and no voluntary movement. Both sides of the body are equally affected. An incomplete injury means that there is some functioning below the primary level of injury. A person with an incomplete injury may be able to move one limb more than another, may be able to feel parts of the body that cannot be moved, or may have more functioning on one side of the body than the other. With the advances in treatment of SCI, incomplete injuries are becoming more The level of injury is very helpful in predicting what parts of the body paralysis and loss of function might affect.
The Essay on Where Does The Body Stop And The Mind Start
Where does the body stop and the mind start In the philosophy narrative since early times there were three basic theories that described relationship and connection between mind and body. These theories are as follows: dualism, materialism and phenomenalism. Dualism is based upon the ideas that the physical and mental processes of the body are not interrelated. The proponents of materialism state ...
Injuries above the C-4 level may require a ventilator for the person to breathe. C-5 injuries often result in shoulder and biceps control, but no control at the wrist or hand. C-6 injuries generally affect wrist control, but no hand function. Individuals with C-7 and T-1 injuries can straighten their arms but still may have problems with the hand and fingers. At T-1 to T-8 there is most often control of the hands, but poor trunk control as the result of lack of abdominal muscle control. T-9 to T-12 injuries allows good trunk and good abdominal muscle control. Individuals with SCI also experience other changes. They may have dysfunction of the bowel and bladder. Sexual functioning is frequently with SCI. Men have their fertility affected, while women?s fertility is not affected. Other affects of SCI include low blood pressure, inability to regulate blood pressure effectively, reduced control of body temperature, inability to sweat below the level of injury and chronic pain. SCI may also bring other possible complications like Skin Breakdown (also termed as ?decubitus ulcers? or ?pressure sores?), which occurs as a result of excessive pressure over the bones of the buttock.
The Essay on Gun Control 14
Gun Control Gun control is an issue that many are faced with daily. Parents are concerned about the safety of their children more now than before. Some want gun control and some do not. I am against gun control because I believe if properly educated about a gun, anyone can use it to a certain extent. I know gun control laws would help cut back on the store robberies, bank robberies, gang ...
Osteoporosis and Fractures occurs when muscle activity is decreased or eliminated and the legs no longer bear the body?s weight and begin to lose calcium and phosphorus which makes them become weak and brittle. Usually occurring 2 years after the initial SCI. Pneumonia, Atelectasis and Aspiration are the injuries above the T-4 level of injury that are at risk of developing restriction in respiratory functions 5-10 years after the SCI. Heterotopic Ossification happens within 12-18 months, occurs when the joints Safety practices during work and recreation can prevent many SCI?s. Use proper protective equipment if an injury is possible, and practice appropriate safety measures. Always check the depth of water before diving, and look for rocks or other possible obstructions. Football and sledding injuries often involve sharp blows or abnormal twisting and bending of the back or neck and can result in SCT. Use caution when sledding and inspect the area for obstacles. Use appropriate techniques and equipment when playing football or other contact sports. Falls while climbing at work or during recreational activities may cause serious SCI?s. Always use defensive driving practices and improved vehicular design may prevent many automobile accidents, and the use of seat belts will greatly reduce the risk of serious injury if there is an automobile accident. Using and remembering these tips will always reduce your chances of ever encountering a situation where you could be the victim of a spinal cord injury.
Bibliography:
1) ?Spinal Cord Injury: Spinal Cord 101? (15 March. 2000).
2) ?Spinal Cord Injury: Possible Complications? (15 March. 2000).
3) ?Spinal Cord Injury: Basic Anatomy of the Spinal Cord? (15 March. 2000).
4) ?Spinal Cord Trauma? (18 March. 2000).
5) ?Spinal and Neck injuries? (19 March. 2000).
