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For patients who have suffered severe injuries to their spinal column, spinal cord surgery may be used for a number of reasons. Traditionally, surgeons have been encouraged to wait several days after the initial injury before performing a spinal cord surgery, unless in the case of an emergency. In some cases, such as a blood clot compressing the spinal cord, it may be necessary to perform emergency spinal cord surgery in order to prevent further injury to the patient. To the extent possible, patients and their loved ones should fully discuss spinal cord surgery with the attending physician, making sure that they understand all of the risks involved, as well as the potential benefits.
In certain circumstances the patient may require spinal cord surgery immediately upon arrival at the hospital, especially if the injury is trauma-related. If the spinal cord appears to be compressed or stretched by a herniated disk, blood clot or lesion, spinal cord surgery can relieve pressure on the spinal cord and prevent or lessen potential permanent damage.
If possible, most surgeons prefer to wait several days before performing spinal cord surgery, to give a chance for the swelling to go down, which may reveal new symptoms or just provide a more accurate view of the extent of the spinal cord injury. There has been some evidence in the past that performing spinal cord surgery immediately could actually worsen the long-term situation for the patient. Recently, some surgeons have begun to advocate immediate early spinal cord surgery. Although this position has never been scientifically tested, a clinical trial is in the planning stages.
Even though spinal cord surgery usually cannot reverse damage to the spinal cord, it may be necessary to stabilize the spine and prevent future pain or deformity. The advances that are being made in the field of spinal cord surgery continue to improve the level of care, with new techniques and equipment, and a growing understanding of the ways in which spinal cord surgery can be used to improve the quality of life of spinal cord injury victims. Like most medical treatments for spinal cord injuries, spinal cord surgery can be extremely expensive, especially in combination with the follow up care and therapy necessary to obtain optimal results. If the spinal cord injury occurred through the fault or negligence of another party, they may be financially obligated to pay for spinal cord surgery and other forms of medical care. Contact an attorney to discuss your case as soon as possible-statutes of limitations for personal injuries can be very strict, and you may have as little as six months after the injury occurs to file a case.
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