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 treatment of a suspected spinal cord injury is to verify
the patient is breathing and the heart is beating. A spinal cord injury in the
upper neck can cause a loss of control of normal breathing. This may require the
placement of a breathing tube and use of a ventilator.
The next step in treatment of a spinal cord injury is immobilization. This
often occurs at the time of injury prior to being transported to the hospital.
Emergency medical technicians may place the patient in a cervical collar or on a
backboard to help prevent the spine from moving. If the patient has a spinal cord
injury, further movement of the spine could lead to further damage.
After a spinal cord injury is diagnosed the patient might be started on a high dose
of steroids. This could help decrease the amount of damage to the spinal cord by
reducing inflammation and swelling. There are risks associated with using
steroids for spinal cord injury. The patient's doctor can help decide if steroids are
appropriate. The use of steroids is only beneficial if they are started
within eight hours of the time of injury.
Next the patient may be placed in traction or a halo device around the head to try
to stabilize the spine and prevent further damage. Many cases of spinal cord
injury are treated with surgery. There are two major goals of surgery.
The first
goal is to relieve any pressure on the spinal cord. This could involve removing
portions of the vertebrae that have broken and are compressing the spinal cord.
If the spinal cord is being compressed by tumor, infection or severe arthritis,
surgery can be performed to reduce the amount of compression.
The second major
goal of surgery for spinal cord injury is to stabilize the spine. If the
vertebrae are weakened from fracture, tumor or infection, they may not be
capable of supporting the normal weight from the body and protecting the spinal
cord. A combination of metal screws, rods and plates may be necessary to help
hold the vertebrae together and stabilize them until the bones heal.
There are many potential complications related to spinal cord injury that may
require specific treatment. These complications include:
After the initial treatment and stabilization of patients with a spinal cord
injury, much of the treatment is geared toward rehabilitation. This includes methods
to help the patient maximize their function through physical and occupational
therapy and the use of assistive devices.
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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