The human body is a mystery that humans have finally begun to solve piece by piece. The spinal cord is one essential part of this puzzle, without which the whole riddle would be irrelevant, meaning the body would seize to function. That is why it is necessary to understand the problems that an injured or defected spinal cord can cause. And everyone also needs to know which surgeries can help correct them and how long is the recovery period after getting surgery.
Firstly, what is the spinal cord?
The spinal cord is commonly called the spine, and a more complicated term would be the vertebral column. The spinal cord present in the human body has a rod-like structure that supports the body. The vertebral column gets divided into four parts:
- Cervical curve
- Thoracic curve
- Lumbar curve
- Sacral curve
The vertebral columns get separated by thirty-three intervertebral discs from which the upper twenty-four are separate, and the lower nine are fused. The shape of the vertebral column curves convexly, and the ends of the cord have the least curve.
What are the functions of the vertebral column?
Over 50,000 species have a spinal cord, and while the structure of the column may vary, it’s functions are similar:
- It is an essential part of the nervous system of the body.
- It supports the body to remain upright or perform any movement.
- The nerves associated with it are necessary for body functioning.
- Senses would cease to function without a spinal cord.
- The spinal cord regulates digestion, heart rate, blood pressure, and other essential body functions.
What are the problems one can face with a damaged spinal cord?
A lack of spinal cord in the human body will lead to death, but a damaged spinal cord can be equally hazardous, and these are the problems the body may face after a spine injury:
Slower or absence of reflexes
The spinal cord is an essential part of the central nervous system. That means the signal that the spinal cord nerves become slower or might even get cut off. And there will be a cut-off in the reflex movements.
Shock
A spinal cord gets injured, the area below it may go into shock, and results in partial paralysis. It will seize the functioning of the area below the injury.
Breathing
Spinal cord injury can weaken the muscles that are essential for the respiratory system’s functioning. It can lead to lung infections and diseases such as pneumonia.
What are the types of spinal cord surgeries?
There are various types of spinal cord surgeries. But the role of them all is to correct any spinal cord defects or injuries. These are some of the common types of spinal cord surgeries:
- Vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty
- Spinal laminectomy
- Discectomy
- Foraminotomy
- Nucleoplasty
- Spinal fusion
- Artificial disk replacement
What is the recovery period after a spinal cord surgery?
The vertebral column is an essential part of the human body, and that is why any surgery related to it can take a toll on the body. The spinal cord can take anywhere from three to four months.
The person who has undergone surgery needs to follow strict precautions to prevent further damage. Spinal Surgery should only get done by a professional and certified doctor as it can lead to health hazards and even death.