Nerve Damage from Spinal Surgery

Our Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Attorneys are Here

The body’s nervous system is composed of two different types of nerves, central and peripheral. The peripheral system is made up of 43 pairs of sensory and motors sensory nerves, which work together to connect the spinal cord and brain. The central system controls most bodily functions such as thought, control over movements, and the way a person interprets the environment. Due to its various responsibilities, the nervous system is critical to a person’s quality of life, and damage to the nerves that make up this system can result in the loss of quality.

Unfortunately, the development or occurrence of nerve damage following a spinal cord surgery, such as spinal cord fusion, is common. This is due to inflamed tissues surrounding the nerves, unintentional scalpel lacerations, and severe bruising. In some cases, nerve damage is repairable, but, in the worst cases, nerve damage can be permanent and lead to severe physical pain, high medical expenses, and other damages. Victims of nerve damage following spinal cord surgery should contact a lawyer right away.

Types of Nerve Damage Following Spinal Cord Surgery

There are various forms of nerve injuries, but each can be categorized into the following three categories:

1. Neurotmesis: This is the worst of all nerve injuries and is most often identified by contusions, stretches, and lacerations. With these types of injuries, the connection between connective tissues and the axons is disturbed. In short, a nerve is broken into two pieces. Sadly, these types of nerve injuries often result in partial recovery at best.
2. Axonotsmesis: This is the second worst of the nerve injuries. With this type of injury, the connection between the neuronal axon and the myelin sheath is disturbed and often causes paralysis of sensory, motor, and autonomic nerves.
3. Neurapraxia: This type of injury does not change the structure of the nerve and, instead, interrupts the conduction of impulse. Most often, this type of injured results in a minor external injury but causes loss of some sensory and motor functions, which can inhibit coordination to complete complex movement.

Other Causes of Nerve Damage

While bruising and lacerations can occur as the result of misused surgical tools or lack of skill or experience, such injuries can also occur due to anesthesia administered before and during surgery. The syringe, which is used to administer the drug, or the medication itself can cause temporary or permanent nerve damage.

Common Symptoms of Nerve Damage

The following symptoms can be signs that a person has suffered a nerve injury during a spinal cord surgical procedure:

• Tingling or numbness in the area near the nerve injury (It is important to keep in mind that tingling and numbness may occur in areas further away from the actual injury due to the complex structure of the nervous system)
• Weakness in the feet or ankles
• Irregular or uncomfortable walking patterns
• Burning sensation, which can be symptoms of neuropathic pain

Call Our Philadelphia Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys Today

If you or a loved one has sustained injuries during a spinal cord surgical procedure or if you are experiencing symptoms of spinal cord injury, we urge you to get in touch with our team of Philadelphia spinal cord injury lawyers right away. We are ready to put our experience on your side and fight to obtain monetary compensation for you. No matter what your case may be, we are here for you.