Someone that has sustained damage to the backbone could become unable to use one or more portions of the body. That fact underlines the reason that a damaged backbone qualifies as a life-changing injury.

Body functions that could be impaired, if the backbone were to become subject to harm

• Muscle movement
• Digestion
• Control of urination
• Ability to sense the temperature of a touched object
• Body’s ability to adjust the heart rate

Tissues that could be affected, in the event that the backbone got harmed

• Any of the backbone’s 33 vertebrae
• Any of the ligaments, of those that are located between the vertebrae
• Muscular tissues
• Cartilaginous tissue
• Tissues of the nervous system: The vertebrae protect the spinal cord.

What sort of events could cause the above body functions and the associated tissues to get damaged?

• The collision of 2 or more vehicles; a pedestrian getting hit by a motored vehicle
• Falls, such as a fall down the stairs, or a fall off of a horse
• Sports accidents, usually in a contact sport; a diver might also injure his or her back, by diving into shallow water.
• Some diseases: Polio is an example of a disease that can injure the victim’s back.
• Certain congenital disorders: Infants born with spinal bifida suffer from a backbone’s inability to form properly, during the infant’s development, within the mother’s body.

Outcome for someone that has undergone one of the above events, or any similar traumatic event

The outcome depends on the exact nature of the injury. The available treatments work best for patients with a minor back problem. The greater the extent of the damage, the lower the likelihood that any existing treatment could prove effective. Science has shown that there is some regeneration of the damaged tissues. The degree of regeneration varies from patient to patient. Research on stem cells has focused on enhancing the extent of the natural regenerative process.

When regeneration has taken place to a sufficient degree, the damaged area can be repaired. Still, immobilization must be carried out, so that the affected area of the body can heal. Surgical reconstruction can be used to correct certain back problems. Still, there are limits to what surgery can do. Moreover, performance of an operation can also invites the development of complications.

If a surgeon has corrected the malformation in a child with spina bifida, the operation normally needs to be repeated several times, as the child grows older. Furthermore, performance of any operation introduces the risk for contamination. If a reconstructed area of the body becomes contaminated, it takes time to treat that infection. The standard treatment involves administering the prescribed antibiotics by IV for a period of 2 or more weeks.

Such injuries can be catastrophic and that is why if you have been injured due to the negligence of someone, you need to ensure you hire the services of a personal injury lawyer in Waterdown. They will help you win the rightful compensation.