The process from the initial incident to testing for spinal cord injury is meticulous but is put in place to keep the injured safe in a time of concern. In this article, we discuss how spinal cord injury is diagnosed, from the very moment it occurs.
Smooth transportation (pre-diagnosis)
Upon injury, a person suspected of having a spinal cord injury will need to be carefully transported to the hospital to prevent any further damage to the spine. This involves keeping patients immobile during the journey.
If the analysis suggests spinal injury, or if the assessment can not go ahead due to other injuries that have happened, fully immobilising the spine is a secure method of stopping the spine from moving during transportation.
Making sure patients are immobile protects the spine by lying the person flat on their back with their head positioned straight and in line with their spine. The patient is placed on a specific stretcher, using head blocks and tape to keep their head safe and still. If the patient is distressed, immobilising might not be the best step forward. If they can be put in a comfortable position without full immobilisation, it can make the process easier and less traumatising.
Testing for spinal cord injury
An ambulance team will look for weaknesses, such as pins and needles or no feeling in the hands or feet. They will also highlight how aware or confused the patient might seem and ask about any issues with their spine before the injury.
Diagnosis tests happen when there are obvious signs of neurological injury, unconsciousness and complaint of neck pain. Tests often include:
- A CT (“cat”) scan: a CT scan will create a series of cross-sectional images that may highlight the location and level of damage to reveal any further issues. This is ideally for those who supposedly may have an upper spine injury and are over the age of 16 – avoiding when working with children due to radiation concerns
- Spine X-rays: This type of X-ray may show damage or fracture to the bones of the spine, all scans and X-rays should be performed urgently, and even if it is unlikely that a spinal cord injury has occurred, an X-ray is still performed to check everything over
- MRI scan: A magnetic resonance imaging scan takes a picture of the injured area with help from a strong magnetic field and radio waves. A computer then forms an image of the spine to show herniated disks and any other abnormalities to be aware of. This is a method of testing often used after a CT scan that highlights the possibility of spinal cord injury.
Doctor examinations
A doctor looks to test sensory functions, muscle movement and overall strength, as well as reflexes through a physical examination:
- Sensory functions are messages that go through the body, including feelings of hot, cold, pain, pressure and more.
- Motor functions send messages to the muscles in arms, legs, hands, fingers, toes, chest and other body parts, which tells the muscles when and how to move.
- Reflex messages are involuntary, using automatic reactions to help protect the body.
Doctor examinations allow healthcare professionals to determine the damage to each area of the spine.
What’s next after the diagnosis?
The trauma that comes with suffering a spinal cord injury can feel overwhelming, but there is still hope for patients to move forward and accept the outcome as they move forward with life.
Doctors, therapists and rehab facilities can help you understand your diagnosis and create a new path filled with pain management plans, rehabilitation support and quality of life support. Surgery is also a possibility – with plenty of spinal cord injury research continuing to advance as time goes on.
Support from Aspire Law
At Aspire Law, the financial results we get for our clients are first-rate, with cases settling for seven and eight-figure sums, several of which are considered some of the highest settlements for spinal cord injury. This level of compensation can be invested in rehabilitation, day-to-day support and just a level of comfort when going through struggles such as unemployment. Get in touch with us to learn more.
