Final answer:
The 2 most common surgeries used to treat spinal cord injury are spinal fusion and decompression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 2 most common surgeries used to treat spinal cord injury are spinal fusion and decompression. Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure used to link together two or more vertebrae, intending to restrict movement and provide a more stable environment for the injured spinal cord.
Decompression surgery aims to relieve pressure on the spinal cord by removing any fragments that are impinging on the nerve tissues. Both surgeries are critical interventions that seek to stabilize the spine and alleviate the effects of compression on the spinal cord.
In severe spinal cord injuries, paralysis occurs because the damaged segment of the spinal cord cuts off communication from the brain to the lower segments.
Depending on the extent and location of the injury, the paralysis can range from hemiplegia, resulting from a hemisection of the spinal cord that affects only one side of the body, to paraplegia which is the loss of motor control and sensation in the lower part of the body. The impact of the paralysis is also based on whether the spinal injury is complete or incomplete.