Spinal Artery Tears in an Auto Accident
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer. The spinal cord is a remarkable structure. It provides motor and sensory innovation to every area of the body. Like other parts of the body, the spinal cord needs a blood supply to carry out its function. Sometimes, this blood supply can be disrupted.
The spinal cord is dependent on its blood vessels to provide oxygen and nutrients to its various cells. The neurons transmit signals from one part of the body to another. The bones provide the spinal cord with its structure. The ligaments and tendons allow the spinal cord to flex from side to side. All of these cells need nutrition, which is where the spinal arteries come in.
Some of the ways that these blood vessels can be damaged in a traumatic injury include:
Direct Shearing: The walls of the blood vessels are made up of an epithelial lining. While this lining is flexible, it is not impenetrable. If the vessels are damaged by a knife or a gunshot wound, this can damage the spinal arteries.
Blunt Force: While the spinal arteries are protected by bones and ligaments, these are also prone to be damaged. This blunt force can disrupt the integrity of blood vessels that flow underneath, including the spinal arteries.
Disease Processes: Like other parts of the body, the spinal cord can be invaded by cancer, disease, and other tumors. These can grow through the lining of the spinal arteries, leading to bleeding within the spinal cord. This can lead to severe consequences throughout the body.
The spinal artery allows the rest of the cord to do its job. When it is damaged, it can have impacts on both motor and sensory function.
A Case Report: Spinal Artery Rupture
A group of medical professionals has published a case report discussing an individual who sustained significant damage to his spinal arteries in an auto accident. While driving down the road, the circumstances of traffic changed. This young man could not avoid the traffic that was coming towards him. He swerved to get out of the way and his car flipped. Unfortunately, he was not wearing his seatbelt at the time. Another vehicle struck his windshield during this process and shattered the glass, sending it flying throughout the car. When medical personnel arrived at the scene, they found that he had sustained numerous, penetrating stab wounds to his back and abdomen. Because of his injuries, he was taken to a hospital for further evaluation. While there, he began to have numbness and tingling throughout his extremities. An MRI scan revealed that he had tears in his spinal arteries. He was taken to an operating room to get it repaired.
Watch YouTube Video: What is a Spinal Cord Injury? This animated video provides an overview of spinal cord injuries and looks at the future of spinal cord injury research.
Help and Assistance with Blood Vessel Injuries of the Spinal Cord
If a major blood vessel is damaged, the result is likely to be hospitalization. With a loved one in the hospital, a family is going to have to adjust its routine. Some of the issues that might come up include:
- Missed work and lost income
- Hospital bills
- Transportation problems
- Issues running errands
- Babysitting duties
- Insurance claims, both property and health
- Arranging for rehabilitation and long-term medical care
These issues are going to create a significant amount of stress for a family. In these circumstances, meeting with an experienced car accident lawyer in Sacramento can help remove some of this stress. Allow an experienced lawyer to deal with some of these issues. With this assistance, the family will be able to focus on their medical recovery instead.
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Sacramento Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries to the spinal cord in a car accident, please call me today for free, friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400.
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