Spinal Cord Injury Terms

The Law Offices of Nadrich & Cohen, LLP is an experienced and aggressive personal injury law firm located in California. We are devoted to representing people who have been injured due to accidents throughout the state of California. Our personal injury firm has recovered over $75,000,000 on behalf of our clients. We pride ourselves in our aggressive style of representation, as well as our integrity, honesty and professionalism. Our main offices are located in Los Angeles with offices throughout Northern and Southern California. We represent the victims of spinal cord injury and serious personal injury accidents throughout California. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Many people are overwhelmed following a traumatic spinal cord injury, especially with medical and legal terms that they may not be familiar with. The following are some useful terms that may be associated with spinal cord injuries:

• Ambulation - The act of walking with or without the use of assistive aids, such as crutches.
  
  
• Central Nervous System - Part of the nervous system which includes the spinal cord and brain.
  
  
• Cervical Spine - Seven vertebrae in the spine (neck).
  
  
• Coccyx - The end of the spinal column, which is also called the tail bone.
  
  
• Diplegia - Paralysis which occurs to the same region of the body on both sides.
  
  
• Hemiplegia - Paralysis which occurs to one side of the body.
  
  
• Laminectomy - An operation in which pressure on the spinal cord is relieved.
  
  
• Lumbar Spine - Five vertebrae in the spine located in the lower back. The Lumber Spine is the strongest part of the spine.
  
  
• Monoplegia - Paralysis that occurs in one limb.
  
  
• Paralysis - A person's inability to move one or more limbs, which is usually the result of nerve damage.
  
  
• Paraplegia - The partial or complete paralysis of the legs.
  
  
• Quadriparesis - Weakness due to disease or injury of the spinal cord which takes place in all four limbs.
  
  
• Quadriplegia - Paralysis which occurs to both arms and both legs.
  
  
• Rehabilitation - A variety of services that provide a person with the assistance to treat a disability.
  
  
• Sacrum (or Sacral) Vertebra - One of five bones in the pelvis that connects to the lumbar vertebra.
  
  
• Spinal fusion - A spinal cord surgery in which a surgeon uses bone grafts or metal rods to fuse the spine's vertebrae together.
  
  
• Spinal Shock - The reaction of the body following a spinal cord injury which may last up to four weeks.
  
  
• Spine MRI - A noninvasive (non-surgical) procedure that makes pictures of the spine's vertebrae by means of magnets and radio waves. This procedure may be safer than an X-ray because it does not involve radiation.
  
  
• Thoracic Spine - Twelve vertebrae of the chest which are separated and cushioned by flat cartilage pads.

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury as the result of an accident or negligence, please call or email the aggressive spinal cord injury attorneys at Nadrich & Cohen, LLP for a free consultation.

1-800-718-4658