Spinal cord injury (SCI) is the result of a traumatic injury that bruises, partially tears, or completely tears the spinal cord. Compression of the spine or neck can be a potential cause of SCI. The lumbar spine comprises L1 to L5 lumbar vertebrae, and is the lowermost part of the spinal cord. A Lumbar SCI is an injury to the lumbar spine which impacts the lumbar nerves.

2. What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is the result of a traumatic injury that bruises, partially
tears, or completely tears the spinal cord.
Compression of the spine or neck can be a potential cause of SCI.

3. What is a Lumbar Spinal Cord Injury?
The lumbar spine comprises L1 to L5 lumbar vertebrae, and is the lowermost
part of the spinal cord. A Lumbar SCI is an injury to the lumbar spine which
impacts the lumbar nerves.

4. Complete and Incomplete SCI
A complete injury results in absolutely no movement and feeling below the
level of the injury.
An incomplete injury will still have some degree of movement and/or feeling
below the level of the injury.
The two medical terms used to describe an SCI patient’s condition are:
Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia: Loss of movement and feeling in arms, legs trunk,
pelvic organs
Paraplegia: Loss of function and feeling from the waist-down (trunk, legs, and
pelvic organs)

5. Signs of a Lumbar SCI
● Pain while walking or inability to walk
● Loss of bladder and/or bowel control
● Pain or stiffness in the back or neck area
● Headaches
● Loss of consciousness
● Respiratory troubles
● Numbness or tingling in extremities
● Decreased sensation in arms and/or legs
● Loss of function in hips and legs

6. Causes of a Lumbar SCI
● Sports injuries
● Motor vehicle accidents
● Acts of violence
● Birth injuries
● Gunshot wounds
● Degeneration
● Osteoporosis
● Falls

7. Injury to L1
The L1 has a portion of the spinal cord
● Affects hip flexion
● Can result in paraplegia, numbness in legs, loss of bladder and/or bowel
control

8. Injury to L2
The L2 contains the end of the spinal cord. L3 to L5 have spinal nerves and not
the spinal cord.
● Affects hip flexion
● Can result in paraplegia, numbness in legs

9. Injury to L4
Comparatively less severe than L1, L2, L3 injuries
● Causes difficulty in bending feet in a specific direction

10. Injury to L5
Causes weakness and numbness in legs

11. SCI Rehabilitation at Plexus
We offer customised rehabilitation plans that feature a combination of:
● Physiotherapy - to improve mobility, flexibility, and strength
● Occupational therapy - to foster independence and improve daily
functionality
● Orthotics - to enable musculoskeletal alignment
● Stem cell therapy - to reduce inflammation, increase vascularisation,
suppress cystic change

12. SCI Rehabilitation at Plexus
At Plexus, our team of experienced SCI specialists is headed by Dr Na’eem
Sadiq, India’s foremost neurologist and stem cell specialist.
To know more about our rehabilitation programmes, you can reach out to us
on the below numbers:
WhatsApp +91 89048 42087
Call +91 78159 64668 (Hyderabad) | +91 82299 99888 (Bangalore)