A spinal cord injury refers to any trauma which results in damage to the spinal cord. The type of symptoms produced will vary according to the severity of the damage and the location along the spinal cord.
The spinal cord is housed within the vertebrae (backbone), which helps protect it from injury. It is responsible for the transmission of nerve signals throughout the body, either voluntarily via connection with the brain, such as when intentionally moving a hand to catch a ball, or involuntarily via mechanisms such as a reflex, for example pulling the hand away from a hotplate before even being consciously aware of the heat.
The spinal cord controls both motor (muscle) and sensory nerves. As such, damage to the spinal cord may result in loss or reduction of muscle movement and strength, and or loss or reduction of sensation (an ability to feel touch, pressure, pain, temperature, etc) on the skin surface ((Tintinalli et al 2004; Spinal Cord Injuries Australia 2004).
Symptoms and characteristics:
Symptoms of spinal cord injuries will vary greatly depending on the location and severity of the injury. Essentially all functions below the level of spinal cord damage are affected, therefore the higher up the spine the trauma, the more of the body that will be affected.
Spinal cord injuries in the lower back (lumbar and sacral levels) will result in symptoms occurring in the legs and usually the pelvis. Injuries in the central back (thoracic level) will also involve trunk muscles and organs, such as bladder and bowel control.
Trauma to the neck (cervical level) will also involve reduced function in the arms and shoulders. Upper cervical trauma, near the base of the skull, may also result in difficulties with breathing and body temperature regulation.
If the damage to the spinal cord is incomplete, so that some nerve signals can still travel below the level of damage, the typical presentation is one of muscle weakness, reduced movement and reduced sensation in the structures below that level. If the spinal cord has been completely severed or crushed, then it is expected that a complete loss of muscle movement and sensation will occur. This is referred to as paraplegia if the lower half of the body is affected and quadriplegia (or tetraplegia) if the upper and lower body is affected (Tintinalli et al 2004).
Workplace solutions and adjustments:
In the workplace there are various factors that would assist people with spinal cord injury to manage their condition. These include changes to work tasks and the environment, such as:
- ensuring wheelchair accessibility to all areas of the workplace including kitchen and bathroom amenities, workspace and other doorways or emergency exits
- installation of ramps for independent building access
- automatic door openers to allow independent door access
- positioning of security pin pads for building access at a height that is accessible from a wheelchair
- set up of kitchen amenities at a height accessible from a wheelchair, along with the installation of equipment such as kettle tippers for those with hand or arm weakness
- set up of office supplies, equipment and furniture which allows for independent access
- desk modifications to allow for wheelchair clearance and access to all items on the desk easily
- use of alternative means of computer access such as voice recognition software
- modifications to driving controls on work vehicles.
The Employment Assistance Fund provides financial assistance for work-related modifications, equipment and services to help people with disability to get employment and perform their work as independently and productively as possible. To determine eligibility, please refer to the full guidelines:
There are solutions and adjustments related to the requirements of the job:
References:
Cripps, R.A. 2005. Spinal cord injury, Australia, 2003–04, Injury Research and Statistics Series Number 25, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Adelaide, viewed 28 February 2007, <http://www.nisu.flinders.edu.au/pubs/reports/2005/injcat77.php>.
Spinal Cord Injuries Australia 2004, FAQs—The spine, the cord, and injury, Spinal Cord Injuries Australia, Matraville, viewed 28 February 2007, <http://www.scia.org.au/faqs/spine,_cord,_injury>.
Tintinalli, J., Kelen, G., Stapczynski, S., Ma, J. & Cline, D. 2004, Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 6th Edition, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Columbus, viewed 28 February 2007, <http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=40>.