Complications of Spinal Cord Injury
Sustaining a spinal cord injury which causes paralysis is a devastating event for all concerned, for many reasons. The physical damage done to the spine can be extensive, and as well as a paralysis-causing injury and the psychological consequences, the injured person must also deal with the prospect of being at high risk of potentially dangerous complications.
The effects and side effects of injuries which cause paralysis are highly dependent on where the injury actually occurred. Generally, damage to the upper sections of the spinal cord – in the neck and upper back – cause the most extensive loss of normal body function, and result in the most serious side effects.
Possible Side Effects and Complications of Spinal Cord Injury
Many of the potential side effects of paralysis injuries are caused by either the muscle paralysis itself, or by the consequences of living a highly sedentary lifestyle.
- Pressure sores and ulcers tend to develop on the skin of someone who is sitting or lying in the same position for extended periods. Reduced circulation and blood flow causes oxygen starvation in the area the individual is sitting or lying upon. The problem is compounded by the fact that the paralyzed person cannot feel pain in the affected area, and can’t rely on signals from their body to tell them what is happening.
- Infected pressure sores can lead to systemic infection. Very advanced pressure sore damage may eventually require amputation of the affected limb.
- Degradation of muscle and bone may lead to osteoporosis, joint stiffening, or joint fusion.
- Increased risk of gallstones, renal stones, and bladder infections
- Increased risk of respiratory infections (bronchitis, pneumonia) due to the inability of the paralyzed person to cough. This may sound like impossible, but in fact the cough reflex is an important part of protecting the lungs from infection (because the cough removes bacteria, dust particles, and mucus from the lungs), and someone who is paralyzed in the upper chest cannot cough unaided.
- Risk of autonomic dysreflexia. This potentially dangerous condition is caused by the body’s inability to regulate its own heart rate, temperature, and other key functions. Dangerously high blood pressure may result, along with an increased risk of stroke.
- Risk of deep vein thrombosis, caused by poor circulation. It is relatively common for people recovering from paralysis injuries to develop DVT in the leg.
- An increased risk of cardiovascular disease can result from the largely sedentary lifestyle many paralyzed individuals tend to lead.
References and Further Reading
American Spinal Cord Injury Association