World Spinal Cord Injury Day will take place on 5 September 2017, aims to increase awareness throughout the community. Spinal cord injury is one of the most common causes of disability incapacitating an individual to lead a normal life.

This global day is an initiative of the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) to build awareness and promoting the inclusion of disability throughout the world.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) and the resultant paralysis has devastating physical, mental, social, sexual and vocational consequences for the injured. In addition, the injury increases the economic burden on the person who sustains an SCI and potentially his or her entire support network

“My name is Amivi Coulibaly 59 years old. I am from the Ivory Coast. I had a road accident and broke my vertebrae and discs. I experienced excruciating pain shooting to my leg, I was walking with my back bent forwards and had continuous back pain. My doctors told me that if I do not undergo surgery I will be soon paralysed. I asked my son who is in the USA about the surgery. We were suggested Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central. Dr Mazda Turel is a renowned and very experienced neurosurgeon in Wockhardt Hospital and we decided to follow his treatment. I underwent a spine surgery for my back and 4 to 5 hours after the surgery my leg pain and back pain was much less. I am even able to walk straight after the surgery. I was all set to go back home pain free thanks to Dr Turel and Wockhardt Hospital. The treatment I received on the hospital was fantastic I will definitely come back to Wockhardt Hospital for treatment again. It is a hospital you can trust and have complete faith in.”

Spinal Injury is caused due to direct injury to the cord itself or indirect damage from disease of the nearby bones, tissues, or blood vessels can lead to severe disability which includes severe consequences, like loss of voluntary movement and loss of sensations.

Other symptoms include:

  • Loss of normal bowel and bladder control (may include constipation, incontinence, bladder spasms)
  • Numbness
  • Sensory changes
  • Pain, weakness, and paralysis chronic pain and spasticity.
  • Although some patients quickly recover after injury, most patients with substantial cord damage have permanent symptoms.

Some causes of Spinal injury include:

  • Assault
  • Falls
  • Gunshot wounds
  • Industrial accidents
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Sports injuries

Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury Includes:

  • Immediate treatment is required for SCI since, time between injury and treatment has an impact on the treatment outcome.
  • Medicines like corticosteroids often reduce swelling that can damage the spinal cord
  • If spinal cord pressure is caused by a growth that can be removed or reduced before the spinal nerves are completely destroyed, paralysis may improve.

Spinal Cord Injury Surgery is needed in following cases:

  • Realign the spinal bones (vertebrae)
  • Remove fluid or tissue that presses on the spinal cord (decompression laminectomy)
  • Remove bone fragments, disk fragments, or foreign objects
  • Fuse broken spinal bones or place spinal braces

Physiotherapy Management and Rehabilitation of spinal cord injury includes the following:

  • Stretching exercises to help maintain tendon and muscle length and/or to reduce muscle spasms.
  • Flexibility exercises for entire body.
  • Breathing exercises to help prevent chest infection and maximize lung function.
  • Posture and balance exercises are to help reduce the pain that is associated with impaired balance and posture.
  • Improve your functional activities and walking exercises
  • Electronic muscle stimulators and exercise equipment are also used.

Spinal cord injury recovery occurs within the first six months after injury. Any remaining loss of function present after 12 months is much more likely to become permanent. Maintaining a positive outlook is extremely important for patients with spinal cord injury patients.

At Wockhardt Hospital:

Spine Surgery is a surgical speciality which is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of spine functions by managing various spinal disorders. It includes both non-operative and complex operative treatment modalities. At a glance, Spine Surgery in India, is a combination of orthopaedic and neurosurgical surgery. The speciality comprises a gamut of spinal surgeries with an aim to relieve pain, stabilization of spine and decompression of spinal cord/nerves.

At Wockhardt Hospital Spine Services Department is running A MULTI DISCIPLIANRY program in the country by a team of dedicated and highly experienced spine surgeons, neurophysicians neurosurgeons pain block experts, physiotherapists and rehabilitation experts. The speciality has one of the best of state of the art equipment, world class infrastructure, and diagnostic services in achieving the right diagnosis and bringing about optimal care. Our Hospital also caters for minimal invasive spinal surgery which is carried out by highly experienced neurosurgeons

The Spine surgery services department at Wockhardt Hospital is well complimented by an excellent physical therapy and rehabilitation department.

To understand more about the condition please contact our centres at Wockhardt Hospital.