Children With SCI
Whether they’re in a moving vehicle or if they’re walking on the side street as a pedestrian, children and adolescents are vulnerable to acquiring Spinal Cord Injuries every time they’re on the road.
Spinal Cord Injuries are not to be taken lightly. Unlike sprains in the ankles as well as other parts of your body, spinal cord injuries are irreversible. Extensive stem cell research is currently underway for a cure, but until it’s found, we must encourage the youth to exercise a great deal of care when they’re on the road to avoid a spinal contusion or transection. But what is the difference between the two?
1. The Difference Between Spinal Contusion and Spinal Transection in Children and Adolescents
There is a distinct difference between a contusion and a transection, per Stanford Medicine. A spinal contusion is the bruising of the spine. A spinal transection, on the other hand, is a tearing of the spine.
A lot of people would be mistaken in underestimating the severity of a spinal contusion. Orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Payam Moazzaz says that while a contusion is technically a “bruising,” it’s typically located in a bundle of nerves that “controls many vital functions within the human body” and as such negatively impacts the heart and overall health.
So when a doctor determines that a child is suffering from a spinal contusion as a result of an accident, it’d be remiss to take this diagnosis lightly.
The severity of a spinal transection is completely intuitive for the most part. A lot of people understand that a tear, as opposed to a bruise, may introduce a host of health issues and complications. But it’s also important to know that spinal transections can either be incomplete or complete.
According to Stanford Medicine, in an incomplete spinal transection, some sensations can still be felt by those affected. The same cannot be said for those affected by complete spinal transections. Having a complete spinal transection hinders one’s ability to move or feel below the injury site.
If a child is affected by a spinal cord injury, no matter the severity, it’s important to aid them in their recovery so that they can be well adjusted to the alterations that need to be made in their life.
2. Diagnosis for Children With SCI After A Car Accident
If a child is in the vehicle during an accident, they must be given immediate medical attention. Getting diagnosed is key in speedy treatment and recovery. Time is of the essence. The sooner they know that something is wrong, the sooner they get treated, the less likely their injury will worsen. If you wait later for the child to be diagnosed, you risk having them miss important milestones. Truth of the matter is, spinal cord injuries are life-altering. Immediate and consistent medical intervention needs to happen in order for a child with SCI to be properly cared for.
3. Treatment and Rehabilitation for Children With SCI After A Car Accident
Treatment and rehabilitation for children with a spinal cord injury largely depends on the severity of their injury. Consider the possibility that your child may need surgery. Extensive physical therapy as well as regular visits to a mental health professional may be necessary for your child’s overall wellbeing.
Aside from the physical trauma they endured, they may also be suffering from mental trauma from the accident. They may fail to grapple with the new reality that they’d have to be able to reconcile from something that’s not even their fault. Remember, your child’s mental health coincides with their physical health, and it’s imperative to make sure that both of them are healthy for a smooth holistic recovery.
4. Empowering Children with SCI
Due to the life-altering effects of a Spinal Cord Injury, every facet of a child’s life affected by a transection or contusion in the spine will inevitably change. This includes:
- Access to opportunities (educational, employment, etc.)
- Social dynamics with their peers
- Family dynamics
The simultaneous and sudden shifts they’re experiencing may most likely negatively affect how they interact with the world around them. Gaps need to be bridged so that children with SCI have their needs met. As ableism is deeply entrenched in society, there is no clear-cut way in ensuring that people and institutions will give proper accommodations for children with SCI. Which is why it is important that adults in their lives need to advocate for them. Likewise, authority figures in their lives need to empower them and teach them how to advocate for themselves.
5. Legal Considerations and Compensation for Children with SCI
Car accidents are among the main causes of Spinal Cord Injury according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. If your child gets a transection or contusion in the spine in this way, it’s in your best interest to seek legal representation. Aside from the financial compensation that you could potentially receive, the sense of justice that your child gets as well as your family may give you the closure you need to fully heal from this tragic incident.
But time is of the essence. While the statute of limitations for car accidents is two years, it’s in your best interest to seek reparations as soon as possible. To maximize compensation here is what you need to do:
- Document the incident: If you are able to, it will help your case if you have documentation of the accident. Take pictures of everything: your environment, the property damage on both vehicles, the injuries, etc.
- File a police report: Filing a police report could potentially strengthen your case. This way, a reliable authority figure could provide an objective documentation of the accident and if you’re not at-fault, it could go in your favor.
- Exchange personal information: Make sure that you also get the other party’s contact information, insurance information, and a picture of their driver’s license.
- Get immediate medical attention: Most importantly, you need to seek immediate medical attention for yourself and your child. Be as detailed as you can when relaying your aches and pains to your medical doctor. Advise your child to do the same. That way, proper treatment will be administered.
- Seek legal representation: Perhaps the most overlooked, seeking legal representation is one of the best things that you can do for your child afflicted by a spine injury. A lawyer will be able to get you justice and the compensation you need to help pay for any medical bills that you may incur as a result of this accident. Not to mention, the sense of justice you may feel after the case has been resolved may help tremendously in your family’s trauma recovery.
Call Omega Law Group
However, not all legal representation is equal. You need to hire the best. You need to hire Omega Law Group.
The award-winning attorneys at Omega Law Group are well-respected by their peers in the industry. Prestigious publications like the Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Business Journal have featured them for the work that they have done thus far in the field of personal injury. With millions of dollars accrued for their clients, Omega Law is the best firm to employ for your legal needs.
They operate on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you won’t have to pay upfront legal fees. To learn more, schedule a free consultation with our elite legal team of spinal cord injury experts!