A spine injury, which involves damage to any part of the spinal cord - includes damage to the nerves as well
Saif Ali Khan Attack: Saif Ali Khan was stabbed at his Mumbai home during an attempted robbery and is currently out of danger after undergoing multiple surgeries, according to doctors at the Lilavati hospital where he is being treated. The 54-year-old actor, who sustained around wounds after he was attacked by an intruder at midnight—including one near his spine—is “out of danger.”
" Saif Ali Khan was admitted to the hospital at 2 am with an alleged history of assault by some unknown person. He sustained a major injury to the thoracic spinal cord due to a lodged knife in the spine. A surgery was performed to remove the knife and repair leaking spinal fluid. Two other deep wounds on his left hand and one other on his neck were repaired by the plastic surgery team. He is completely stable now. He is recovering well and out of danger now," Dr. Nitin Dange from Lilavati hospital told mediapersons.
According to Dr. Dange, Khan has six stabs, out of which two are deep and one is near the spine.
What is a spinal injury?
Experts say a spinal injury, which involves damage to any part of the spinal cord, includes damage to nerves at the end of the spinal cord, known as the cauda equina. Your spine sends and receives signals between the brain and the rest of the body.
If the spine gets injured, it can often lead to permanent changes in strength, feeling, and other body functions below the site of the injury. Those who have had a spinal cord injury also may experience mental, emotional, and social side effects.
Is injury to the spine dangerous?
According to doctors, the spinal cord can control your arms or legs and after an injury, the movement depends on two factors: one is where the injury occurred on the spinal cord, and second, how bad the injury is.
If the lowest part of the spine does not get damaged after an injury, it is called the neurological level of the injury. "The completeness" of the injury refers to how much feeling, known as sensation, is lost. Completeness is classified as:
Complete
If all feeling and all ability to control movement are lost below the spinal cord injury, the injury is called complete.
Incomplete
If some feeling and control of movement remain below the affected area, the injury is called incomplete. There are varying degrees of incomplete injury.
Experts say the loss of feeling and control of movement is known as paralysis, which can either be permanent or become fine in some time.
Signs and symptoms of spinal cord injury
According to experts, there are a series of tests that can help you determine the neurological level and completeness of your injury. Spinal cord injuries can cause the following symptoms:
- Loss of movement
- Loss of or a change in sensation which involves a change in the ability to feel heat, cold, and touch
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Exaggerated reflex activities or spasms
- Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity, and fertility
- Pain or an intense stinging sensation caused by damage to the nerve fibers in the spinal cord
- Trouble breathing or coughing
When should you see a doctor?
If you or anyone around you has sustained an injury around the spinal cord, make sure to provide an immediate medical evaluation. It is safest to assume that the person has a spinal injury until proven otherwise. This is important because:
- A serious spinal injury is not always immediately obvious
- Numbness or paralysis can happen quickly or come on gradually
- The time between injury and treatment can be critical
If you suspect someone has had a bad spine injury, make sure to:
- Not move the injured person as it can lead to permanent paralysis
- Immediately call for medical help
- Keep the person still
- Place heavy towels on both sides of the neck and prevent movement
- Provide basic first aid like stopping bleeding and making the person comfortable without moving the head or neck
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