Spinal Disorders – Cervical Fractures
The cervical spine is located in the neck. It comprises your spinal cord, which is protected by seven vertebral bones and cushioning intervertebral discs. It extends from the base of the skull (where the spinal cord enters the brain) to the junction of the neck and the shoulders (where it becomes the thoracic spine).
Most spinal fractures cause compression on the spinal cord, with the vertebra pressing down on the spinal canal. Damage to the spinal cord in this region can be extremely serious, and in severe cases it has the potential to cause paralysis of the entire body. It is critical that any injury to the neck, no matter how minor it initially seems, be medically assessed and treated immediately. In most cases, with proper treatment, a full recovery is possible.
