Spinal Cord Injuries
Any injury to the spinal cord can cause serious damage to the nervous system. Every muscle, organ and extremity from the neck down relies on the spinal cord to deliver signals from the brain. When the spinal cord is damaged, it can affect different parts of the body, depending on where in the spine the injury occurs. At DOCS Health in Los Angeles, our neuro-spine surgeon surgeons offer treatment and surgery options for patients with spinal cord injuries in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine.
Cervical Spinal Cord Injuries
Cervical spinal cord injuries can be the most severe type of spinal cord damage. If the spinal cord is completely severed, it could mean death for the victim. Since everything below the injury can be affected, a cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) can impact vital organs and all the extremities. This includes the lungs and heart. Patients with cervical spinal cord injuries are at risk of tetraplegia, paralysis below the neck.
Thoracic Spinal Cord Injuries
Damage to the spinal cord in the mid to upper back in the thoracic spine can result in paraplegia. The bladder, bowels and legs can be affected by thoracic spinal cord injuries, but most patients will have full function of their arms and respiratory system. The extent of paralysis or nerve damage depends on the extent of the injury to the spinal cord.
Lumbar Spinal Cord Injuries
Lumbar spinal cord injuries are the least life-threatening type of damage, primarily affecting the bladder, bowels, sexual function and the extremities below the waist. Depending on the severity and level of the spinal cord injury, patients with these types of SCIs can experience some level of paralysis in the hips, legs and feet.
Treatment for spinal cord injuries can help patients recover as fully as possible. Many patients respond positively to cutting-edge orthobiologic treatments and may recover some of their abilities. Our neuro-spine surgeon surgeons at DOCS Health are some of the most experienced in their field, offering innovative treatment options for patients with cervical, thoracic and lumbar SCIs.
If you or a family member suffered a spinal cord injury, contact our team at DOCS Health. We can schedule an SCI consultation at our state-of-the-art medical center in Beverly Hills.
Doctors who treat this condition
Unless otherwise indicated, the physician is a member of DOCS Health Medical Group and has medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both. Physicians denoted with an asterisk (*) are independent physicians who are not part of DOCS Health Medical Group, but do have medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both.