Injuries to the neck and back are commonly associated with motor vehicle accidents, significant falls, work related accidents, and sports activities. Some of these high energy injuries can cause problems to the surrounding muscles, tendons, ligaments, discs and nerves. The most common neck and back inju-ries seen by orthopaedic surgeons and spine specialists include:
– can be due to a traumatic event or as the result of osteoporosis. Most com-monly seen in the mid and low back. The vertebral column collapses in the front and in some cases forc-es bony fragments into the spinal canal. Chances of fracture increase with weakened bone from osteo-porosis or tumor. Symptoms may include significant back and leg pain, weakness, and numbness.
– (not including compression fractures) depend on the mechanism of injury to the neck or back. A burst type fracture results from a fall from a height in which the vertebra can break into pieces both anteriorly and posteriorly. A Chance fracture results from extension and distraction of a vertebra, such as with a head on motor vehicle crash. A fracture-dislocation of the spine is another sig-nificant injury in which vertebral segments slip off each other and the joints of the spine dislocate. This can result in neurologic compromise and spinal cord injury.
– generic term to describe injury to the cervical spine. Commonly results from a rear impact car accident in which the neck flexes and then forcefully extends. This causes a strain to the neck mus-cles and ligaments. Extent of injuries dependent upon a number of factors including speed of impact, positing of the spine at impact, and use of a restraints. Complaints may include neck and back pain, ra-diating pain to the arm(s), numbness, and headaches. Symptoms may or may not appear immediately.
Spinal cord Injuries
– usually result from high energy injuries such as a motor vehicle accident, sports activity, gunshot wound, or industrial accident. Injury to the spinal cord can occur from the cord being compressed, pulled, or cut by outside forces. Internally, swelling or bleeding within the cord can also cause damage. Some of the symptoms that occur from an injury to the spinal cord include pain, numb-ness, weakness, and paralysis, loss of bowel and/or bladder control, spasticity, inability to walk, and difficulty breathing. These are serious injuries requiring immediate medical attention to minimize risk of complications and death.
– also called a slipped disc, can result from a serious traumatic event or from a trivial one. A sudden onset of back pain with radiation to the leg(s) including tingling and numbness is com-mon. Weakness may be present. In rare cases, a massive disc herniation can compress the nerve bundle in the lower back resulting in loss of bowel and/or bowel control. This is considered a surgical emergen-cy. Better than 90% of patients with an acute disc herniation improve in approximately 6- 8 weeks with-out the need for surgical management.
Sprain and strains
– an acute episode of neck or back pain that is usually the result of an over-stretch injury. This can occur from a fall, motor vehicle accident, sports activity, or work related accident. A strain occurs when a muscle is pulled or torn. In contrast, a sprain is when ligaments are stretched or torn from an injury. Symptoms of a sprain or strain include neck or back pain with spasms. Movement may be painful. Treatment is usually non-surgical aimed at decreasing inflammation, improving motion, and strengthening.