Spine Trauma
Spinal trauma may be defined as external forces during an accident, fall, injury, impact, etc., resulting in damage to the spinal bones, nerves, and discs. The initial treatment of a spinal injury specialist is the key to a positive recovery from a spinal injury.
Board Certified
Neurosurgeon
15+ Years
Experience
5000+
Procedures Performed
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The Procedure
What Exactly Is Spine Trauma?
Spinal trauma refers to injuries you sustained to your spine as a result of a sudden impact from the outside world (not a condition like disc degeneration that develops over time). A traumatic spine injury occurs suddenly over the course of a few moments, years, or even a matter of hours. In contrast, a degenerative spine condition develops over the course of several years. Injuries can involve broken vertebrae, torn ligaments, slipped discs, and injury to the spinal cord. Anywhere from the neck to the lower back can be injured, so the specific manner of injury will have a large impact on the kind of symptoms you experience and how quickly you should seek treatment.
30 Minutes
Same Day Procedure
General Anesthesia
2-6 Weeks Recovery
Conditions Treated
Frequently Seen Signs
Symptoms of spine injury may happen at the time of injury, but hours after injury are also possible. Do not wait if you (or someone near you) experience the following after an accident or impact.
Sudden or Severe Back Pain
You should know that if back pain begins suddenly or after a hard blow, there is a risk of damage to your spine’s structure.
Weakness or Paralysis in Limbs
Feeling weakness or paralysis in one or both arms or legs may indicate spinal cord involvement. This must be evaluated as soon as possible.
Numbness or Loss of Sensation
Inability to Feel Anything If you have any loss of feeling regarding touch, temperature, or pressure beneath the site of injury, it indicates a compression of the nerves or cord.
Loss of Bladder or Bowel Control
If you experience a loss of bladder or bowel control, it is a serious neurological warning sign that you must contact a doctor for assistance.
Difficulty Standing or Walking
If you’re having trouble standing or walking because you keep unsteadily stumbling or can’t bear weight at all, it could be something like a fractured vertebra or a cord injury that’s affecting your ability to move.
How It Happens
Spine trauma follows a clear and rapid sequence from the moment of impact:
Initial
Impact
An external force (e.g., collision, fall, and compression) is transmitted directly into the spine, causing that force to exceed the capacity of the bony structure and the soft tissue to absorb the energy.
Vertebral
Damage
Force causes fracture, dislocation, or crushing of vertebrae, damaging the safety margin that usually protects the spinal cord and the nerve roots.
Spinal Cord or Nerve Compression
The cause of the neurological symptoms patients experience is bone fragments, displaced discs, or swollen tissue compressing the spinal cord or the nerve(s) that leave the cord.
Secondary Injury Response
The body's secondary response to an injury includes inflammation, which can definitely worsen distortion and damage of the injured tissues unless the trauma is stabilized and treated within hours of injury.
How It Is Treated
Spinal injury management is always urgent and individualized; there is no standardized one-size-fits-all protocol. The treatment begins with the stabilization phase, meant to insulate against further damage. Afterwards, one phase follows the other, and they are carefully assessed according to the severity of the injury, neurological condition, and overall health of the individual. Spine trauma treatment without surgery may be a realistic and effective treatment course for various patients. This applies when there is no neurological damage and the structural damage to the spine can be contained.
Emergency Stabilization
The priority is to immobilize the spine to prevent any movement because that may damage the cord or nerves further, and imaging is used to know the full extent of damage.
Non-Surgical Management
Once the structural integrity of the spine is maintained and the neurological function is intact, treatment continues with bracing, activity modification, medication, and observation at each stage of the healing process.
Minimally Invasive Intervention
In situations where the nerve looks like it is being compressed or there is moderate damage to the vertebrae, doctors can relieve the compression and stabilize the spine with a specific minimally invasive spine procedure, which means recovery is not as long as open surgery.
Surgical Reconstruction
Surgical intervention to repair a severely damaged vertebral fracture, if the spine is unstable or there is significant compression of the spinal cord, may be essential for long-term protection of neurological function, alignment correction, and stabilization of the spine.
Related Treatments
Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion may be the most commonly performed in the spine after trauma. This is where two or more of the vertebrae are fused to form a solid, stable structure. This procedure is performed when fractures or dislocations have destroyed the integrity of the spine. During the surgery, abnormal movements between the damaged vertebrae are prevented so that the spinal cord and nerve roots are not further irritated. If there is both nerve compression and instability in an injury, it is usually done with decompression.
- Puts the spine back in line and removes harmful instability
- Helps prevent further spinal cord injury from abnormal movement.
- Offers a lasting and resilient structural base for rehabilitation and recovery
Vertebroplasty / Kyphoplasty
Designed for treating vertebral compression fractures due to some types of trauma, these treatment options involve less invasiveness than surgery. Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty have a few different things. In both procedures, the surgeon utilizes a cement-type material to stabilize the vertebra. In vertebroplasty, the cement is injected directly into the vertebra after an incision is made in the vertebra. In kyphoplasty, the balloon is used to restore the height of the vertebra, followed by the cement. They are both performed using minimally invasive techniques, which means small incisions are made. This suggests that recovery time is reduced greatly. After the surgical procedure, most patients can soon start their rehab exercises and get pain relief in a day or two.
Spinal Decompression Surgery
Significant trauma can cause fragments of tissue, displaced discs, and swollen tissue to compress directly on the nerve roots or spinal cord. In these instances, spinal decompression surgery will remove the pressure to protect the neurological functions and allow the nerves to recover. In some cases, bone or disc tissue can be displaced or damaged in a way that allows for a minimally invasive spinal decompression surgery. In these cases, a tissue disturbance can be made, and the recovery time for this surgery can be made much shorter. Decompression surgery should be early, if not completely decompressed, for the most effective outcome for an injured and traumatically impacted spine.
Expert Spine Surgeon
Dr. Avery L. Buchholz is a board-certified neurosurgeon with fellowship training in complex spine surgery. With over 15 years of experience and 5,000+ procedures performed, he specializes in both minimally invasive and complex surgical techniques.
His expertise spans the full spectrum of spine care, from non-surgical interventions to advanced reconstructive procedures, always prioritizing patient safety and optimal outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for when determining if my back has been hurt in an accident?
Don't delay if you have sudden back or neck pain or numbness, tingling, or weakness in your limbs after any impact. Imaging, such as an MRI or computer tomography (CT) scan, can confirm if there is actual damage to the structure.
Will a spinal injury heal without the use of surgery?
Most fractures of the spine can be treated with bracing, rest, and physical therapy, and recover well. Surgery is only considered if the spine is unstable or if nerves are being squeezed.
How long will it take to heal from a back injury?
Minor fractures can heal in 6-12 weeks, and more complex spinal cord injuries may require months of rehabilitation. The sooner the treatment begins, the better the recovery.
What is the difference between a spinal fracture and a spinal cord injury?
A fracture of a vertebra is a broken bone or a vertebra. An injury to the spine will involve a disruption of the nerve pathway in the spinal cord. Unstable, untreated fractures can lead to cord injury, but not the other way around.
How do I know if I need to go to the ER or spine specialist following a back injury?
Immediately seek medical attention at the ER if there is loss of motion, sensation, or bladder control after injury. When symptoms are severe and not emergency-related, consult a spine specialist right away, as this might change treatable injuries into complicated injuries.
Our Locations
Serving patients across VA and the DC area
Falls Church, VA
6400 Arlington Blvd, Suite 710
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Alexandria, VA
6244A Little River Turnpike
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Get In Touch
Contact us today to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward relief.
Address
6244 Little River Turnpike, Suite 101
Alexandria, VA 22312
Phone
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Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
This form is intended for scheduling purposes only and is not a HIPAA-compliant form. Please avoid sharing any sensitive medical information.
By submitting, you consent to being contacted using the information provided.
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