Prevention
How We Can Help You for Spine Trauma
Spine trauma results from a sudden injury to the spinal cord or the bones surrounding it. This condition most commonly affects the cervical spine, which is in the neck, or the thoracic spine, which runs through the upper back.
The renowned doctors of Stanford Health Care have the training and experience needed to accurately diagnose and effectively treat spine trauma.
Our specialists work closely together to develop a complete care plan customized to your condition and unique needs. The goal of the plan is to help relieve your symptoms, which may range from numbness or tingling to complete paralysis. Your personalized care plan is also designed to help maintain or regain as much functional ability as possible so you can enjoy a full lifestyle following your treatment.
In addition, Stanford Health Care patients with spine trauma may have opportunities to participate in research studies of new treatment approaches not yet available anywhere else.
What We Offer You For Spine Trauma
- Center of Excellence for advanced care of articular and periarticular fractures and the full range of orthopaedic conditions.
- Nationally recognized expertise in treating all cases of articular and periarticular fractures, no matter how complex.
- Precise diagnosis including a thorough physical exam plus use of the latest imaging technology, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and computed tomography (CT) scans.
- Comprehensive support services including care coordination from diagnosis to treatment to follow-up.
- Team-based treatment planning that brings together orthopaedic trauma surgeons, rehabilitation specialists, physical therapists, and other dedicated professionals to tailor care to your needs.
- Advanced treatment options emphasizing nonsurgical approaches such as pain medication, casts or splints, and physical therapy. When needed, we also offer minimally invasive surgical procedures performed by highly skilled orthopaedic trauma surgeons.
- Active research program to develop new diagnostic and treatment advances to help people with articular and periarticular fractures.
Treatments for Spine Trauma
Recovery from spine trauma requires a dedicated team of experts specializing in treating spinal cord injuries (SCIs). Our neurologists work closely with neurological surgeons and rehabilitation specialists to create customized treatment plans. We base your treatment on the extent of the spinal injury and your symptoms.
Unfortunately, it may not be possible to restore complete function after spine trauma. However, our spinal cord injury treatment program helps you maintain as much independence as possible. Thanks to our experience and expertise, U.S. News & World Report ranks us among the top 10 hospitals nationwide for neurology and orthopaedic care.
We provide ongoing support and education to maximize your capabilities at home and in your community. Our rehabilitation programs also help improve your quality of life so you can stay healthy physically, emotionally, and socially.
Stanford Health Care’s personalized spine trauma rehabilitation programs help maximize your functional abilities so you can live as normally as possible.
Nonsurgical Treatments
Surgery
Spinal cord injury treatments initially focus on stabilizing your spine and preventing any further damage. Treatment immediately after spine trauma focuses on maintaining your ability to breathe and preventing complications like shock. After this initial period, your doctor may recommend a combination of nonsurgical treatments, such as:
Hypothermia: This experimental treatment lowers your body's temperature under your doctor's supervision and may help reduce spinal cord inflammation. Some research suggests hypothermia helps prevent additional spinal cord damage. Additionally, hypothermia may reduce swelling, spinal cord bleeding, and muscle spasms around the spine.
Immobilization: Rigid braces, special beds, and spinal traction devices may help stabilize your spine and maintain proper alignment. These therapies pull your spine into proper position over time and help prevent further injury.
Medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications to manage your symptoms, such as drugs that prevent muscle spasms.
Spine rehabilitation: A team of experts develops a rehabilitation program tailored to your unique needs and functional abilities. Rehabilitation may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other programs that teach new skills to maintain independence.
Your doctor may recommend spine surgery to:
Stabilize the spine: Doctors may implant screws, hooks, or connecting rods to immobilize part or all of the spine. Instead of pulling the spine into place over time, these materials immediately straighten the spine and provide ongoing support. Surgeons use this technique for major spinal fractures and other injuries not likely to heal on their own.
Decompress the spine: Surgery may be required to remove bone fragments, blood clots, herniated discs, or foreign objects that are compressing the spine.
Spinal cord injury treatments initially focus on stabilizing your spine and preventing any further damage. Treatment immediately after spine trauma focuses on maintaining your ability to breathe and preventing complications like shock. After this initial period, your doctor may recommend a combination of nonsurgical treatments, such as:
Hypothermia: This experimental treatment lowers your body's temperature under your doctor's supervision and may help reduce spinal cord inflammation. Some research suggests hypothermia helps prevent additional spinal cord damage. Additionally, hypothermia may reduce swelling, spinal cord bleeding, and muscle spasms around the spine.
Immobilization: Rigid braces, special beds, and spinal traction devices may help stabilize your spine and maintain proper alignment. These therapies pull your spine into proper position over time and help prevent further injury.
Medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications to manage your symptoms, such as drugs that prevent muscle spasms.
Spine rehabilitation: A team of experts develops a rehabilitation program tailored to your unique needs and functional abilities. Rehabilitation may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other programs that teach new skills to maintain independence.
close Nonsurgical Treatments
Your doctor may recommend spine surgery to:
Stabilize the spine: Doctors may implant screws, hooks, or connecting rods to immobilize part or all of the spine. Instead of pulling the spine into place over time, these materials immediately straighten the spine and provide ongoing support. Surgeons use this technique for major spinal fractures and other injuries not likely to heal on their own.
Decompress the spine: Surgery may be required to remove bone fragments, blood clots, herniated discs, or foreign objects that are compressing the spine.
close Surgery
INTERESTED IN AN ONLINE SECOND OPINION?
The Stanford Medicine Online Second Opinion program offers you easy access to our world-class doctors. It’s all done remotely, and you don’t have to visit our hospital or one of our clinics for this service. You don’t even need to leave home!
Visit our online second opinion page to learn more.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may be eligible to participate in open clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies that are currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future.
What is Spine Trauma?
Our Clinics
The Stanford Medicine Spine Center is staffed by world-class spine specialists from neurosurgery and orthopaedics, who work together to offer you the world’s most advanced and effective treatment options—including those that don’t involve surgery. Our goal is to safely get you back to your normal lifestyle as soon as possible, and maintain long-term spinal health.
To schedule an appointment, please call 650-725-1125.