Bicycle Accident Injury

Published on: January 17, 2012

New Spinal Cord Injury Research Could Lead to New Treatments

by Stephen Bilkis

A new research study by a Canadian researcher is learning new details about some previously unknown information about the human spinal cord, a researcher recalls. While there have been several spinal research studies over the years, what sets this study apart is that he has learned something that could improve the way in which lumbar spinal cord injuries are treated.

The researcher has stated that the spinal cord is described in physiology books as a relay system. However, according to his research, the spinal cord processes information in similar fashion as the brain. The scientist also learned that his research seeks to examine the spinal cord injury, more specifically the areas above and below the injury in order to “map” the area to determine the injuries nature and be able to measure how effective the treatment is.

His research is expected to be a guide to future spinal cord injury treatment procedures once the methods do become available. An as of yet unknown method of bridging a spinal cord injury, called bridging, is hoped to become available once research has advanced enough to learn how it can be done. The current research that is sometimes referred to as “spinal mapping” is expected to be instrumental in accurately locating the spinal cord injury that needs to be bridged.

Published on: January 15, 2012

High School Senior Recovers After Spinal Injury

by Stephen Bilkis

A high school senior, name withheld for privacy, is preparing to return to the soccer field this summer, and then play college soccer this fall, sources have told a rep. Like most high school seniors, making the transition from senior to college freshman can be a big deal. This can be an especially big deal when athletes take the step. It can be an even bigger step when the college bound athlete is recovering from a spinal cord injury.

The doctor discovered that this young athlete’s spine was fractured in three places during his last high school soccer season. His opinion is that it happened in the last game. It was not a herniated disc. Since that time, he has been out of athletics, and after surgery, he has spent much of that time in rehab and recovery. Although he has not been cleared for full contact yet, he has been cleared to resume running and weight training. He expects to be cleared for contact in about a month he said.

The senior is reportedly gaining strength and has constantly maintained a positive attitude throughout the entire affair, a friend was told. The youth’s future college coach is extremely impressed with the young man’s progress and has nothing but good things to say about him. He says that the youth has good soccer technique, decision-making skills, and a very strong work ethic. He also added that although he signed the young athlete for a certain position on the field, that he is versatile enough to play in any position the team would need him.

Published on: January 12, 2012

Baseball Player Injured after Colliding with another Player

by Stephen Bilkis

A baseball player for the Georgia Bulldogs was injured during a game when he ran into another player. Both players were trying to catch a line drive during the third inning. The player, an outfielder, was taken off the field in a stretcher and transported to a nearby hospital, reports the team trainer. The player was treated for a few minor injuries and then underwent neck surgery to stabilize his spine. At present, little information is known whether the player will suffer permanent spinal injury like a herniated disc. The player was transferred from the hospital and rehabilitation center, however.

The player is a 20-year old junior who had played 117 games for the Bulldogs. Additional stats include 91 starts and a .312 overall batting average. The player was injured in a game against Florida State. The player’s coach has offered his condolences to the player’s family and hopes the player recovers soon. The player will most likely have to miss the rest of the baseball season. Hopefully, he will be able to return next season to play as a senior.

The other player, a second baseman, was able to walk off the field without help from medical personnel. He suffered only minor injuries. This is not the first incident of a Georgia State baseball player ending up with spinal injuries. In 2009, another player was riding his scooter on campus when he was hit by a campus vehicle. The player ended up paralyzed from the waist. This ended his baseball career, says a doctor.

Published on: January 10, 2012

Four Major Types of Thoracic Spine Injuries Experienced

by Stephen Bilkis

The thoracic spine is the upper back and is the most stable part of the spine. It is the longest section of the spine and because it has the support of the ribcage and ribs it is extremely well protected. When injuries to the thoracic spine do occur, they are caused by motor accidents, sport accidents, or violence. Most of the damage to the thoracic spine occurs in the bottom half of the thoracic spine, a doctor said.

There are four major types of thoracic spine injuries being a compression, burst, flexion-distraction, and fracture-dislocation. Of the four types, a compression spinal injury is the most common fracture in the thoracic spine. This injury occurs when the upper back is curved forward or sideways when the accident or violence occurs. When the back is bent forward, the front or side of the vertebrae is crushed in the impact. A compression injury is also called a wedge fracture, a doctor mentioned.

A burst fracture is similar to a compression fracture. However, the main difference is that the entire vertebra is crushed instead of a small portion of it. The vertebra is evenly crushed by the trauma. When a burst injury occurs, the vertebra is pushed into the spinal cord causing loss of motor, sensory, and reflex functions. It is rare for a burst fracture to occur because of the curve of the spine, but they do happen. The most common incident that causes a burst or compressed fracture is when someone falls from height and lands on their buttock or feet, a report stated.

Published on: January 7, 2012

Rehabilitation after Treatment is just as Important as the Surgery

by Stephen Bilkis

Healing only begins with the surgery to the lumbar area in the thoracic spine. Rehabilitation is an important part of getting the individual back into the swing of things, a doctor said. Their life will never be as it was in the past, but rehabilitation can help make the transition easier.

Rehabilitation must address every aspect of the individual’s life from their home, work, school, and community life. The rehabilitation will depend on the severity of the spinal injury and the extent the spinal cord is affected. The fracture must be considered before rehabilitation is begun. The body must be well enough to relearn, a recent study stated.

Some areas will need to be more thoroughly addressed than others are. Rehabilitation is about relearning and doing the activities to the best of the individual’s ability. Motor, sensory, autonomic function, psychosocial, and occupational incidences are all addressed.

Published on: January 2, 2012

Medical providers often have to prescribe opiates to the soldiers who suffer back injuries due to their gear

by Stephen Bilkis

A 130-pound staff sergeant served in Afghanistan, typically carrying armor and gear that weighed between 80 and 90 pounds, inspectors have learned. The sergeant suffered a pinched nerve while carrying his gear during a tour in Iraq. He also sustained a cracked vertebra while in the United States. Then, in Afghanistan, he fell from a roof while wearing all his gear and injured his shoulder.

The sergeant described the pain to a doctor as bone-on-bone grinding. Little by little, he began to drop some of his gear, like extra batteries, three of his seven ammo magazines, and started using a lighter rifle.

At least, he went back to Washington state weeks early with other injured soldiers. He had to undergo spinal-fusion surgery and a ruptured disc was removed from his spine.

Published on: December 30, 2011

Young Men under 32 High Risk for Spinal Injuries

by Stephen Bilkis

Research has found that accidents often result in thoracic spine fractures. There are several groups of people at risk for suffering from spinal fractures. The first are athletes they have a higher risk than people who are not involved in sports. Athletes involved in contact sports such as football or hockey, where it is typically for people to tackle or slam into you, should use caution and make sure that all protection gear is used at all times during practices, training and games. In addition, people who are involved in sport activities that have the possibility of falling are also at high risk. Sports such as high jump in track and field or rock climbing are examples of those activities, a researcher mentioned.

In addition, another group of people with a high risk of suffering from thoracic spine fractures is those who work at jobs with a danger of slipping and falling, a study stated. People in jobs such as working in construction or window washing should always use the proper restraints to protect themselves from falling.

The average age of people who damage their thoracic spine is 32. Over half, 55%, of the individuals injured are between the ages of 18 and 30 years old. US database listings showing that around 80% of injuries of this nature occur in males. Women who have transitioned into postmenopausal and have osteoporosis also have an increased risk for thoracic spine fractures.

Published on: December 28, 2011

A U.S. Army Science Board study from 2001 recommended that soldiers should carry no more than 50 pounds for any length of time

by Stephen Bilkis

A U.S. Army Science Board study from 2001 recommended that soldiers should carry no more than 50 pounds for any length of time. The Army chief of staff agreed, and hoped to reach that goal by 2010. Unfortunately, studies have learned that soldiers carry much more than that, even today.

The simple weight that all soldiers must carry is leading to a number of musculoskeletal injuries that erodes the readiness of the military. The wars will someday come to an end, but these spinal injuries could remain for a lifetime and cost a great deal of money and time to treat, according to doctors.

A study by a John Hopkins University and two others in Manhattan and Long Island researched revealed that nearly a third of all medical evacuations from Iraq and Afghanistan from 2004 to 2007 were due to musculoskeletal, connective-tissue, or spinal injuries. Experts estimate that is around double the number of evacuations from combat injuries. The number of soldiers who were retired from the Army due to musculoskeletal conditions increased almost ten times from 2003 to 2009.

Published on: December 23, 2011

Military Is Heavy Burden to Soldiers

by Stephen Bilkis

United States soldiers have a great burden to bear – literally, according to studies. One such soldier wore all the typical gear – body armor, a vest and pack for his radio, batteries, food, water, flashlight, ammunition, and all the rest of the things he needed in the field. Together with his M4 rifle, all of his equipment weight 70 to 80 pounds and he could feel the weight keenly.

He was in pain, especially when his squad was under fire. Running or diving on the ground was especially excruciating, making his neck and shoulders burn intensely in agony. Some soldiers have suffered herniated discs.

The soldier has now been back in Washington State for two-and-a-half years, doctors have learned. He has been diagnosed with bone spurs in the vertebrae of his neck. The cause? A degenerative arthritic condition. The pain can be so intense that he has trouble getting out of bed in the morning.

Published on: December 17, 2011

Military Strives to Provide Recovery to Spinal Injuries

by Stephen Bilkis

The military has been working hard to find new ways to treat musculoskeletal injuries, studies have learned. Teams of physical therapists and other specialists have been created by the Army to keep a closer eye on infantry brigades, and have implemented better screening techniques to find serious spinal injuries. Still, some soldiers say their injuries are often discounted by physician assistants, who are often the ones who see the soldiers first. These assistants determine who will get more extensive workups by doctors in military hospitals.

A sergeant in the Army with the 5th Stryker Brigade complained of a sore back during training. A physician assistant at the Madigan Army Medical Center was convinced the soreness was simply due to muscle pain.

The sergeant told an interested party that he had to pay out of his own pocket for an MRI, which showed he had a herniated disc. He went to Afghanistan in 2009 anyway, deciding to wait until returning to Washington state to be treated in summer 2010.