Damage to the spinal cord interrupts the signals between the nerves and the brain, resulting in varying degrees of paralysis and loss of sensation. Symptoms depend upon the severity and location of the injury.

Spinal cord injuries generally affect one of the four areas of the spine:

• Cervical (neck)
• Thoracic (behind chest)
• Lumbar (lower back)
• Sacral (tailbone)

The severity level of spinal cord injury generally falls into one of two categories:

• Complete spinal cord injury
• Incomplete spinal cord injury

Individuals who suffer a complete spinal cord injury are paralyzed below the site of the injury and are often permanently paraplegic or quadriplegic. Paraplegia, paralysis of the lower extremities, results from an injury to the thoracic, lumbar or sacral regions of the spine and may affect the chest, abdomen, hips, legs, bowel, bladder and sexual functions. Injuries to the cervical region lead to quadriplegia, paralysis below the neck, the most devastating level of spinal cord injury. When only part of the spinal cord is damaged, the result is an incomplete spinal cord injury. People with this type of spinal cord injury are able to experience either sensation or movement below the site of the injury.

The most common incomplete spinal cord injuries are knows as:

• Brown-Sequard syndrome (BSS)
• Central cord syndrome
• Anterior cord syndrome
• Posterior cord syndrome

Brown-Sequard syndrome is an injury of the spinal cord that leads to weakness or paralysis on one side of the body and loss of sensation on the other. BSS is frequently associated with spinal cord tumor, tuberculosis, multiple sclerosis and trauma as a result of an accident.

Central cord syndrome is impairment in the arms, hands or legs due to the brain's inability to send and receive signals to and from parts of the body below the injury site. This syndrome is associated with damage to nerve fibers that carry information.

Anterior cord syndrome, also known as anterior spinal artery syndrome, is a result of compression of the artery that runs along the front of the spinal cord. The compression may be caused by a number of factors, including bone fragments or a herniated disc. Individuals suffering from anterior cord syndrome generally experience complete loss of strength below the injury site.

Posterior cord syndrome is a rare incomplete spinal cord injury associated with damage to the back of the spinal cord. Individuals suffering from this type of SCI generally have limited movement ability below the injury site.

Regardless of the type and severity level, spinal cord injuries can lead to a significant amount of physical and emotional suffering since movement, sensation and actions, which were previously possible, become significantly limited and, in some cases, completely lost. The leading causes of spinal cord injury include motor vehicle accidents, falls, acts of violence, sport-related accidents, as well as infections and diseases.

Consulting a Skilled Pensacola Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Thousands of individuals sustain spinal cord injury due to another party's negligence and/or reckless behavior every year. The seasoned Pensacola spinal cord injury attorneys at Emmanuel, Sheppard & Condon will represent victims rendered paraplegic or quadriplegic due to someone's wrongful behavior. For a free consultation, please call us at 850-444-HURT (4878).