Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Ms Anna Leonard (Spinal Cord Injury)

Every year more between 300 and 400 Australians receive a Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. The greatest cause is road traffic accidents and greatly impacts men between 20-40 years of age. There is no cure only a great need.

The primary injury usually occurs on initial impact causing damage most likely to be fracture dislocation or burst fractures.

In comparison secondary injury involves an entire cascade of systemic and cellular processes initiated by the primary injury. These processes occur within minutes of the injury and when there is disruption of the blood spinal cord barrier there is increased swelling of the tissue ultimately resulting in greater functional deficits.

Anna is investigating treatments to reduce inflammation on spinal cords swelling that can reduce the amount of damage and limit the lifelong impact of Spinal Cord Injury.