People who are involved in accidents will sometimes suffer a spinal cord injury. These injuries are associated with a host of life changes, especially when they involve permanent damage. Just getting the treatment for the spinal cord injury is a costly endeavor; however, there are often complications that arise for a person who’s dealing with this.
Some of the complications that can occur are life-threatening. It’s imperative that a person who has this type of injury remains vigilant so they can get the medical care they need right away if there is anything amiss. In some cases, proper care can reduce the chance of complications.
Pressure sores
Pressure sores might not seem like a life-threatening issue, but they can turn deadly. These sores usually start out on an area of the body that is in constant contact with another surface. It is one of the reasons why spinal cord injury patients need to move frequently. Those who are completely paralyzed will need help to turn and reposition.
The pressure ulcers can sometimes occur because of friction. This makes safety while moving and transferring a priority. Using special equipment and techniques to reduce the weight on the contact points during transfer might be beneficial.
Pressure sores don’t get bad suddenly, but if they can become severe if they are left untreated. In the worst cases, the skin breaks down to the bone, which can cause infections. Septic shock is also possible in these cases. For this reason, any pressure sore must be treated immediately.
Pneumonia
When the mid-back to neck area of the spinal cord suffers an injury, there’s a chance that the person’s breathing will be impacted. They might not be able to cough or breathe deeply. Bacteria can build up in the lungs when this occurs. Because of this, a person who has a spinal cord injury will need to pay close attention to how they’re breathing so they can seek care if the respiratory system isn’t functioning properly. Left untreated, bacterial pneumonia can be fatal.
Some spinal cord injury patients might not get the care they need because they’re concerned about finances. If they suffered an injury at the hands of a negligent party, they might choose to seek compensation for the damages they’re facing so that the financial liability can be transferred to the liable party.