Paraplegia

As specialists in the representation of victims of catastrophic injuries, the Oakland attorneys at Van Blois & Associates understand the particular legal issues faced by individuals suffering with paraplegia as the result of a spinal cord injury.

The main regions of the spine, from top to bottom, are the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar.  Below the lumbar region is the sacrum, which is composed of five vertebrae fused together.  There are seven vertebrae in the cervical region, twelve in the thoracic, and five in the lumbar.  The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves which runs through the spine like a coaxial cable, spreading out to all parts of the body and enabling the ability to feel, control muscles, and regulate involuntary body functions such as breathing and blood pressure.

An injury to the spinal cord affects nerve function and interrupts communication between the brain and all of the body below the point of injury.  An injury in the cervical region causes quadriplegia, which involves paralysis of all four limbs and up to the entire body below the head, while an injury to the spinal cord below the cervical region causes a condition known as paraplegia, a loss of sensation and motor control of the lower extremities. 

How much of the body is affected by paraplegia depends upon the location of the injury.  Like all spinal injuries, the higher on the spine the injury occurs, the more extensive the paralysis.  Paraplegia ranges from partial paralysis of one leg, limiting but not eliminating the ability to move and feel, up to complete paralysis of both legs, the abdomen, trunk, and upper chest.  Yet even in the most severe cases of paraplegia, the individual will have full function of both arms and hands as well as full range of motion in the head and neck, which remain unaffected.  There should be no difficulty with breathing or other internal organs, except that bowel, bladder, and sexual function will be partially or completely lost.

A related condition to paraplegia is cauda equina syndrome.  The cauda equina is a looser bundle of nerve roots at the very base of the spinal cord, in the lower lumbosacral region.  Inflammation or compression of the cauda equina can cause loss of bowel and bladder control, as well as paralysis of both legs.  This condition can become permanent, although if the compression or inflammation can be removed early enough, the nerve roots may regrow and regain their function, leading to a lifting of paralysis and restoration of bowel and bladder control.

With over 40 years of experience representing people who have been paralyzed as a result of automobile accidents, negligence, and other causes of severe personal injury, the lawyers at Van Blois & Associates have the skills and background to effectively represent you in your personal injury case.  If you have received a spinal cord injury causing paraplegia due to the negligence or wrongful acts of another party, contact Van Blois & Associates today to discuss your options.