Spinal Cord Injury Ulcers

There exist various traumatic injuries that someone could sustain in an auto accident, motorcycle accident, or even a slip and fall accident. Like the traumatic accidents themselves, the injuries span the spectrum from minor scrapes to catastrophic, life-changing. One example of the latter is an injury to the spinal cord. Many people understand that some of these spinal cord injuries can result in paralysis. However, many other complications could stem from a spinal cord injury as well. Some of the statistics published by Spinal Cord include:

There are between 15,000 and 20,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries every year in the United States.
Around 300,000 people in the United States are currently living with spinal cord injuries.
Because of new research that has been developed, incomplete spinal cord injuries are becoming more common than complete spinal cord injuries.
The majority of spinal cord injuries occur in people who are between the ages of 16 and 30.
The most common cause of spinal cord injuries in the elderly is slip and fall injuries.
Men sustain spinal cord injuries at about four times the rate of women.

These statistics are evidence that spinal cord injuries are both frequent and severe. Because of this, it is essential to understand that there are many different complications that someone could develop as a result of a spinal cord injury.

The Development of Spinal Cord Ulcers

When someone develops a spinal cord injury, many deficits arise due to the nerve damage that comes with this injury. Some of the shortcomings include:

The inability to sense pain, temperature, or pressure
Loss of the ability to move limbs
Issues with coordination in space

All of these contribute to the development of pressure ulcers. Typically, when someone sits, stands, or lays on a specific area of his or her body for an extended period of time, that area gets irritated. As a result, people move and try to get more comfortable. Unfortunately, following a spinal cord injury, people may not sense this irritation anymore. Eventually, the skin starts to erode and an ulcer begins to form. This is a portal for infection and can place people in a hospital for an extended period of time.

Treatment of Ulcers

The treatment of an ulcer depends on its severity. Some of the treatment options include:

Moving the individual to another position to relieve pressure on the ulcer.
Local wound care, such as the application of ointment and cream.
Debridement of dead tissue.
Possible antibiotics to treat infections that might have occurred.
A possible trip to an operating room to close the pressure ulcer.

In addition, there needs to be a strong focus on the prevention of these ulcers. Once it happens, it isn’t unusual for it to recur. This can lead to multiple hospitalizations, surgeries, and financial stress.

Help from a Lawyer

Many different accidents could result in the development of a spinal cord injury. However, no matter what the accident was, it is essential to make sure that it is investigated thoroughly. It is a good idea to meet with a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento. Your family could be entitled to financial compensation.

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Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers

I’m Ed Smith, a Personal Injury Lawyer in Sacramento. Spinal cord injuries can lead to numerous complications, including ulcers. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.

I am pleased to be a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Feel free to see our verdicts or settlements here.

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Spinal Cord Injury Ulcers: AutoAccident.com

Image Attribution: The photo at the start of this article is seen in its original form on Unsplash. The image has been reproduced here with permission/ Spinal Cord Injury Ulcers.

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Spinal Cord Injury Ulcers