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Secondary complications and spinal cord injuries

On Behalf of | Jun 26, 2022 | Injuries |

Much of people’s concern after suffering spinal cord injuries falls to the loss of motor and sensory functions that they commonly cause. Additionally, however, suffering trauma to the spine carries a risk for potentially serious or deadly secondary complications.

Knowing the possible other ailments their conditions have the possibility of causing may help people to promptly receive the care they need.

Pressure sores

According to Medical News Today, pressure sores and other skin injuries commonly affect those living with spinal cord injuries. Lost mobility and sensation sometimes impair people’s ability to change positions often enough to avoid developing such skin ulcers or to feel sores developing.

Blood pressure problems

Changes in how the body functions after a spinal cord injury cause some people to experience sudden, dangerous increases in their blood pressure. This condition, known as autonomic dysreflexia, sometimes leads to stroke, heart attack and seizures.

Blood clots

According to Physiopedia, after suffering spinal cord injuries, people have an increased risk of developing blood clots. In the first year after their injuries, an estimated 15% of patients experience deep vein thrombosis or blood clots in one of the large veins. The risk of blood clots forming, as well as that of the blood clot moving through the bloodstream and blocking an artery in the lungs, increases each year after the injury occurred.

Suffering a spinal cord injury often has life-changing implications, in addition to requiring extensive medical care and time off work for recovery. When people suffer such trauma due to the negligence or recklessness of others, they may consider their options to recover compensation for their injury-associated losses.