Spinal injury medical negligence

The spine is the central nerve communication channel of the body. When the bones of the spine are damaged there will generally be healing - but damage to the spinal cord itself is irreversible. Protection of the spinal cord is therefore at the very centre of diagnosis and treatment.

Seriously adverse consequences for the patient will take place if either a threat to the well-being of the spinal cord is not diagnosed or treated or where a patient with a spinal injury is for example mishandled, thereby suffering additional direct trauma.

If a spinal injury is stable (i.e. the vertebra are not moving and causing further damage to the spinal cord) then it is less likely that further damage will be caused. However, if an injury is unstable even small movements of the spine can cause enormous additional damage and the higher up the spinal cord that damage is the greater will be the effect.

Injuries to the spinal cord in the neck therefore can render the patient tetraplegic and may even cause death by paralysing the breathing muscles. Damage further down the spine might still cause devastating injury and paralysis to the lower limbs but the upper limbs and chest and abdomen will be spared.

The management of the patient with suspected spinal injury therefore is a matter of vital importance and will give rise to medical negligence claims if not handled appropriately.

Find out how to make a claim for compensation or how we have helped others.