Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is a term describing the loss of function, mobility and feeling due to damage to the spinal cord. The spinal cord extends from the base of the brain, down the middle of the back, to about the waist. The nerves that lie within the spinal cord are upper motor neurons (UMNs) and their function is to carry the messages back and forth from the brain to the spinal nerves along the spinal tract.  The spinal nerves that branch out from the spinal cord to the other parts of the body are called lower motor neurons (LMNs). These spinal nerves exit and enter at each vertebral level and communicate with specific areas of the body. The sensory portions of the LMN carry messages about sensation from the skin and other body parts and organs to the brain. The motor portions of the LMN send messages from the brain to the various body parts to initiate actions such as muscle movement.

SCI is commonly caused by trauma (car accident, construction site accident, falls, gunshot, etc.).

In general, the higher in the spinal column the injury occurs, the more dysfunction a person will experience. The seven vertebra in the neck are called the Cervical Vertebra. Injury in this region usually causes loss of function in the arms and legs, resulting in quadriplegia. The twelve vertebra in the chest are called the Thoracic Vertebra. Injuries in the thoracic region usually affect the chest and the legs and result in paraplegia. The vertebra in the lower back are the Lumbar Vertebra. Injury to the lumbar vertebra generally results in some loss of functioning in the hips and legs.

The effects of SCI depend on the type of injury and the level of the injury. SCI can be divided into two types of injury - complete and incomplete. A complete injury means that there is no function below the level of the injury: no sensation and no voluntary movement; both sides of the body are equally affected. An incomplete injury means that there is some functioning below the primary level of the injury. A person with an incomplete injury may be able to move one limb more than another, may be able to feel parts of the body that cannot be moved, or may have more functioning on one side of the body than the other.

Another type of SCI is when a intervertebral disc, the cushion between the bony blocks of vertebra, “herniates” or “ruptures.” Disc herniation may cause the contents of the disc to impact or “impinge” upon the nerves located in the spinal column, resulting in pain and discomfort. Herniations or ruptures most commonly occur in either the cervical (neck) area or lumbar (low back) area. When a disc ruptures in the cervical region, patients often experience pain, numbness or tingling into their arms, hands and fingers. Often, the spine will bend out of its normal curvature (loss of cervical lordosis), causing significant muscle spasm and associated neck pain.

Likewise, when a disc herniates in the lumbar region, patients usually experience numbness and tingling through their buttocks and into their legs. Serious lumbar herniations may also cause significant back pain and incontinence, and can effect the patient’s ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.

Individuals suffering from SCI as a result of someone else’s negligence – whether it is the result of a motor vehicle accident, worksite accident or otherwise – should explore all legal rights and remedies available to them. The attorneys at Baker & Abraham appreciate the complexities involved in an SCI case, and have demonstrated a proven track record with SCI clients over the years.

For a free consultation of your SCI claim, please call us at (617) 330-1330 or contact us at or .