What is a spinal cord injury?
A spinal cord injury is an involvement spinal cord, which is part of the central nervous system. It is the main route by which the brain receives information from the rest of the body and sends the orders that regulate movements. It is a nerve cord that extends from the base of the brain to the lumbar region, and is protected by the vertebral column. The spinal nerves are distributed along the spinal column. Depending on the region from which they emerge, they are called: cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral. This nerve connection is interrupted or altered by a spinal cord injury.
A spinal cord injury can produce paralysis of voluntary mobility and the absence of any sensation below the affected area leads to lack of sphincter control, sexual and fertility disorders, alterations of the autonomic nervous system and the risk of suffering other complications (pressure ulcers, spasticity, kidney problems, etc.).
Spinal cord injuries usually occur as a result of trauma (work, sports or traffic accidents, other types of accidents, etc.), due to a disease (tumoral, infectious, vascular, etc.) or are congenital (spina bifida).