MedlinePlus: Spinal Cord Injuries

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Illustration of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves

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- Services and providers for Spinal Cord Injuries in the U.S.
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National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Spinal Cord Injuries is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries usually begin with a blow that fractures or dislocates your vertebrae, the bone disks that make up your spine. Most injuries don't sever your spinal cord. Instead, they cause damage when pieces of vertebrae tear into cord tissue or press down on the nerve parts that carry signals. In a complete spinal cord injury, the cord can't relay messages below the level of the injury. As a result, you are paralyzed below the level of injury. In an incomplete injury, you have some movement and sensation below the injury.

A spinal cord injury is a medical emergency. Immediate treatment can reduce long-term effects. Later treatment usually includes medicine and rehabilitation therapy.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

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Spinal Cord Injury(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
Also available in Spanish
Spinal Cord Injury: Hope through Research(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Also available in Spanish

Basics	Learn More	Multimedia & Cool Tools
Overviews Latest News Diagnosis/Symptoms Treatment Prevention/Screening	Rehabilitation/Recovery Coping Specific Conditions Related Issues	Tutorials
Research	Reference Shelf	For You
Anatomy/Physiology Clinical Trials Research Journal Articles	Directories Organizations Newsletters/Print Publications Statistics	Children

Overviews
- Spinal Cord Injury(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Spinal Cord Injury(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
Latest News
- Spinal Cord Stem Cells May Act as Nerve Repair System(07/22/2008, HealthDay)
Diagnosis/Symptoms
- MRI of the Spine(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
  Also available in Spanish
- Myelogram(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
  Also available in Spanish
Treatment
- Neurosurgery - What Is It?(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
  Also available in Spanish
- Spinal Injury: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Prevention/Screening
- Spinal Cord Injury (SCI): Prevention Tips(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Rehabilitation/Recovery
- Living with Spinal Cord Injury(American Occupational Therapy Association)
- Restoring Hand Function After Spinal Cord Injury(American Society for Surgery of the Hand, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
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Coping
- Adjustment to Spinal Cord Injury(University of Alabama at Birmingham)
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Specific Conditions
- Central Cord Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
- Central Pain Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
- Spinal Cord Infarction(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
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Related Issues
- Autonomic Dysreflexia - A Possible Life Threatening Situation(University of Alabama at Birmingham)
- Bladder Management(University of Washington, Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine)
- Challenges of Spastic Hypertonia(University of Alabama at Birmingham)
- Depression and Spinal Cord Injury(University of Washington, Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine)
- Dressing with Ease, Style and Comfort(ALS Association) - Links to PDF
- Functional Goals Following SCI - Basic(University of Alabama at Birmingham)
- Pain After Spinal Cord Injury(University of Alabama at Birmingham)
- Rehab Tip Sheets for Providers and Caregivers on Performing Common Activities(University of Alabama at Birmingham)
- Taking Care of Pressure Sores(University of Washington, Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine)
- Taking Care of Your Bowels--The Basics(University of Washington, Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine)
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Tutorials
- Myelogram(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
  Also available in Spanish
- Neurosurgery - What Is It?(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
  Also available in Spanish
- Spinal Cord Injury(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
  Also available in Spanish
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Anatomy/Physiology
- Anatomy of the Spine(National Pain Foundation)
- Atlas of the Body: The Nervous System -- Groups of Nerves(American Medical Association)
- Life and Death of a Neuron(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
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Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Spinal Cord Injuries(National Institutes of Health)
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Research
- Nanotech Treatment Shows Promise against Spinal Cord Injury in Mice(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Research for a Cure in Spinal Cord Injury (2005)(University of Alabama at Birmingham)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Directories
- Find a Board-Certified Neurosurgeon(American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons)
- Find a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician(American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)
- Locating Information about SCI (Spinal Cord Injury)(University of Alabama at Birmingham)
- Spine Care Provider Search(North American Spine Society)
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Organizations
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
  Also available in Spanish
- Spinalcord Injury Information Network(University of Alabama at Birmingham)
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Newsletters/Print Publications
- Pushin' On Newsletter(University of Alabama at Birmingham)
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Statistics
- Spinal Cord Injury: Facts and Figures at a Glance -- 2008(University of Alabama at Birmingham) - Links to PDF
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Children
- Illness and Disability: Spinal Cord Injury(National Women's Health Information Center)
- Spinal Cord Injury(Children's Hospital Boston)
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