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A spinal cord injury can be suffered during delivery if excessive traction or rotation is present. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Spinal cord injury caused by birth injuries typically affects the spinal cord in the neck area. When a breech delivery is present, the lower cervical and upper thoracic region is most commonly affected if a spinal cord injury is suffered. In a torsion delivery, which is more common in vertex deliveries, the upper and midcervical region for vertex delivery is the major site of spinal cord injury.
The most important aspect of medical care for a spinal cord injury is prevention. For instance, if a breech delivery is present, obstetric management, instrumental deliveries and pharmacologic augmentation of labor can help reduce spinal cord injury risk. A spinal cord injury is a common cause of permanent disability and death in both children and adults, and about 11,000 people suffer a spinal cord injury every year.
Though many advances have been made in treating spinal cord injuries, a cure has still not been found. In the meantime, hope and rehabilitation can help a spinal cord injury patient live life to the fullest.