Dr. Eck received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Catholic University of America in Biomedical Engineering, followed by a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University. Following this he worked as a research engineer conducting spine biomechanics research. He then attended medical school at University of Health Sciences. He is board eligible in orthopaedic surgery.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
The first step in diagnosing a spinal cord injury is a medical history and
physical examination. The patient's physician will obtain a medical history asking
questions about the details surrounding the time of the injury. The amount of
time since the injury is important because spinal cord injury is a medical
emergency. The quicker the patient obtains treatment, the better the chances for
recovery. Other details of the medical history could include details of any
prior neck or back injuries or surgeries, the presence of
pain in the neck or
back, any weakness in the arms or legs, loss of bowel or bladder control, loss
of sensation in the arms or legs, and other previous medical conditions.
The physical examination will include testing to see if sensation to
touch is intact in the arms and legs as well as testing muscle strength
and reflexes in the arms and legs. The patient may be kept in a cervical collar or on a
backboard to immobilize them until the physician determines whether or not the
patient has a spinal cord injury.
The next step is often x-rays of the neck or back. These can help identify a
fracture or dislocation of
the vertebrae. These may or may not be present with
a spinal cord injury. It is possible to have a spinal cord injury without an
injury to the vertebrae. X-rays can also help identify a tumor or infection or
severe arthritis that could cause spinal cord injury.
A computed tomography (CT) scan is a more advanced imaging test that can give
the physician a better view of the vertebrae. CT can identify some injuries to
the vertebrae not seen on the plain x-rays. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
scan is another more advanced imaging study that can identify a spinal cord
injury. The MRI is better at evaluating the soft tissues including the
ligaments, intervertebral discs, nerves and spinal cord. The MRI scan also can
show evidence of injury within the spinal cord.
Fractures occur when bone cannot withstand the outside forces applied to the bone. Fractures can be open or closed. Types of fractures include: greenstick, spiral, comminuted, transverse, compound, or vertebral compression. Common fractures include: stress fracture, compression fracture, rib fracture, and skull fracture. Treatment depends upon the type of fracture.
Hypothermia is having a body core temperature of less than 35 C or 95 F. Most causes of hypothermia are preventable. Risk factors for hypothermia include age, mental status, medical conditions, and medications. Symptoms of hypothermia generally depend upon the severity of the condition. Treatment depends upon the severity of hypothermia. If not treated early, hypothermia can lead to cardiac arrest, coma, or death.
Stem cells are referred to as undifferentiated cells due to the fact that they have not yet committed to a developmental path to form specific organ tissue. There are a variety of types of stem cells to include embryonic, fetal, adult peripheral blood, umbilical cord, and induced pluripotent stem cells.
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