What are Long-Term Consequences of Spinal Cord Injury?
Those who have sustained spinal cord injury may suffer dire physical and emotional impairments involving loss of movement, strength, sensation, as well as complications with bowel and bladder control, impotence, and varying levels of pain and spasms. Spinal trauma often results in partial or complete paralysis, leading to paraplegia or quadriplegia:
- Paraplegia involves paralysis of the lower limbs. Trauma has occurred to the lower vertebrae of the spinal column.
- Quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia, involves paralysis of all four limbs. Trauma has occurred to the upper vertebrae of the spinal column.
Further complications with spinal cord injuries may develop including gastrointestinal issues, respiratory disease such as pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) and more.