More than 12,000 people sustain and survive spinal cord injuries each year. Any injury to the spinal cord has the potential to cause lasting damage and involve extensive therapy, and an assortment of related challenges and frustrations. Consider some of the leading causes of spinal cord injuries to get a better idea of what steps you may be able to take to minimize your risks of having spinal surgeon in Orange County, CA.
1. Motor Vehicle Accidents
When you combine auto and motorcycle collisions, motor vehicle accidents are by far the top cause of spinal cord injuries. Women are more likely than men to be injured in a car accident, while men are more likely to injure their backbones from a motorcycle accident. Such injuries also tend to twist and bend vertebrae, throw off alignment, and damage supporting muscles, ligaments, and spinal discs.
2. Falls
Affecting men and women nearly equally, falls from roofs and ladders, down a flight of stairs, or due to a misplaced step can instantly jostle a spine and damage the sensitive nerves located within the spinal cord. Falls can also severely injure a backbone already weakened from arthritis and degeneration.
3. Gunshot Wounds
The amount of damage a bullet does to the spine depends on where the injury occurs and the force of the impact. Men are statistically more likely to have a spinal cord injury from a gunshot wound than women.
4. Diving Injuries
Whether it’s from diving into water that’s too shallow to cushion the body or not maintaining proper form, diving injuries can place a great deal of sudden pressure on the spine. Men have more spinal cord injuries from diving, but any tumble into water from a high spot poses a certain degree of risk.
5. Medical and Surgical Complications
Claiming more than 400,000 lives annually, medical and surgical errors can be just as impactful when patients survive. Unexpected complications and infections can also seriously compromise the spinal cord.
If you have had a serious spinal cord injury and believe you might need surgery, reach out to Dr. Hamid R. Mir MD – Spine Surgeon to find out what your options are. Dr. Mir specializes in spine surgery in Orange County, CA and alternative procedures like cervical disc replacement in OC. Call 949-860-7498 today and take the first steps toward living a pain-free life.