Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis (Tetraplegia)

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord, which is a bundle of nerves that runs down the back from the brain to the lower back. The spinal cord carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body, so damage to the spinal cord can cause a variety of problems, including:

• Loss of movement

• Loss of sensation

• Pain

• Bladder and bowel problems

• Sexual dysfunction

• Breathing problems

For SCI at the level of the neck, surgery can improve the function of the arms. Options include nerve transfer and tendon transfers to use remaining nerves/muscles to perform new functions in the upper extremity.