About Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord extends from brain to lower back and is a bundle of nerve cells and fibers that acarries messages from the brain to the body as well as from the body to the brain. The spinal cord is protected by the vertebral column. The 4 regions of the vertebral column include the 7 cervical vertebrae (protecting 8 cervical nerves), 12 thoracic vertebrae (protecting 12 thoracic nerves), 5 lumbar vertebras (protect 5 lumbar nerves) and 5 sacral vertebras (protecting 5 sarcal nerves). Trauma to spinal cord result from a direct injury or injury to surrounding bones, tissues, and blood vessels. It occurs when there is damage to the cells of the spinal cord or severs to the nerve tracts that relay signals up and down the spinal cord.

The signs/symptoms associated with a C6 injury

Complete injury: All sensory and motor function is lost below the neurological level
Incomplete injury: Having some motor or sensory function below affected area
Quadriplegia (tetraplegia): arms, trunk, legs, and pelvic organs affect by SCI.


Signs and symptoms vary depending on the location and severity of the trauma. A SCI may present with; loss of movement, loss of sensation, loss of bowel and bladder control, exaggerated reflex activities or spasms, changes in sexual function, difficulty regualating heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, pain, autonomic dysreflexia (increase in blood pressure, sweating, and other autonomic response due to pain or sensory distrubance), muscle atrophyand difficulty breathing and clearing secretions from lungs.

Specifically a C6 SCI will show signs of sensory loss beginning from the dermatomes coving the forearm and thumb side of hand. Motor loss will be present at the wrst extensors. Therefore people with C6 injuries will show limited wrist control and complete loss of hand functions.
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