Some motor vehicle accidents have life-changing consequences. After death, paralysis certainly seems the most dreaded effect of a serious Virginia car crash. When caused by spinal cord damage, paralysis does not necessarily mean a complete loss of feeling and movement of the limbs and doesn't have to be irreversible.
Spinal cord injuries are very different in the way that they damage the spinal column and cord and how the nerve cells are affected. As such, no two victims with spinal cord injuries will experience the same symptoms.
Fortunately, most spinal cord injuries result in incomplete paralysis, which allows some feeling and/or movement below the point of injury (POI). This is sometimes achieved by the emergency care team's successful reduction of the compression of the spinal cord due to swelling, broken bones, and foreign matter.
Depending on the location of the POI and the damage to the cord and nerve cells, there are five basic types of incomplete paralysis:
- Anterior Cord Syndrome: This is caused by damage to the front of the spinal cord, and it results in impaired movement as well as loss of touch, pain, and temperature sensation below the POI. In most cases, some movement can be recovered with time.
- Central Cord Syndrome: When damage occurs to the center of the spinal cord, it can result in paralysis of the arms, but some leg function is preserved. Here again, some recovery is possible.
- Posterior Cord Syndrome: This appears when the back of the spinal cord is hurt. The victim will lose movement but preserve sensation on one side of the body, and experience the reverse on the other side.
- Cauda Equina Lesion: When the nerves of the lower first and second lumbar region are injured, the patient will experience partial or complete loss of sensation. Sometimes, the nerves will regenerate and the sensory function will be recovered.
If you have been hurt in a Virginia car crash, please contact our Warrenton or Culpeper office today. You can discuss your case with one of our skilled, dedicated attorneys to see how we can help you secure fair compensation.
