Learn Your Rights If You Need a Cervical Fusion After a Car Accident in New York

There are many different types of serious or catastrophic personal injuries that could be caused by a motor vehicle accident.  One of the most devastating types of personal injuries is a neck injury that damages the structure of the spine.  It is also one of the most common, with medical statistics revealing there are over 800,000 new neck injuries each year caused by motor vehicle accidents.  Neck injuries can cause damage to the spinal cord or the nerves branching out of the spinal cord, usually due to vertebrae fracture, herniated disc, or other injuries.  While most doctors may try to treat this conservatively, unfortunately the truth is that many patients will need surgical intervention.  One of the most common surgeries is a cervical fusion after a car accident in New York.

Here at the O’Connor Law Firm, our experienced car accident lawyer in New York is focused on handling catastrophic personal injuries cases.  This includes cases involving serious neck injuries that require a cervical fusion.  Damage to the vital structures in the neck can result in a lifetime of debilitating pain and disability.  Some of the most severely injured victims will require a cervical fusion after a car accident in New York, an invasive and irreversible treatment. Unfortunately, sometimes the damage to the neck is so severe that individuals may still suffer partial paralysis throughout their entire body. 

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident and need or received a cervical fusion, call us to schedule a FREE consultation to learn what your rights to compensation may be under the law.

Anatomy of the Spine and Neck

The spine is both a surprisingly simple yet complicated structure.  At its essence, it is just a stack of vertebrae separated by a cushioning disc from your head to your hips.  Layers of muscle, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues that wrap over the spinal column to stabilize it.  In the center of this stack of thick and strong bone, is a soft and jelly-like spinal cord. 

Where things get complex is the interaction between the spinal cord and the vertebrae and discs.  This is because large branches of nerves originate from the spinal cord and snake out of the vertebrae, around the discs, and extend outwards in your body.  These nerves, known as the peripheral nervous system, provide sensations such as touch, temperature, moisture, pressure, and pain, as well as also providing for motor movement, strength, and other vital functions. 

The peripheral nerves send messages back to the spinal cord, which is part of the central nervous system along with the brain.  The purpose of the spinal cord is the messenger superhighway to the brain, while the brain processes the stimuli and sends responses back down the spinal cord to cause a function—such as a muscle to move.

How Car Accidents Cause Injuries to the Spinal Column

The force of a motor vehicle accident, even a minor one, can cause damage to the spinal column.  Even a minor shift in the vertebrae or discs can cause them to slide, shift, move, or even splinter (fracture) near a branch of nerves coming out of the spinal cord.  This can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

• Extreme pain
• Weakness
• Decreased sensation to touch, temperature, moisture, pressure, or other feelings
• Decreased range of motion
• Decreased motor function and movement
• A complete lack of sensation
• Pins and needles
• Numbness or coldness
• Burning and electric fire sensations
• Paralysis, and
• Other troubling symptoms.

Sometimes the damage to the spinal column can resolve on its own as the inflammation from the trauma goes away.  Other times over-the-counter pain medications may be needed or a steroid injection may be needed to help block pain and stop inflammation.  When these treatments fail, a victim may need a cervical fusion.

What is a Cervical Fusion After a Car Accident in New York?

A cervical fusion is a type of surgical procedure that involves joining or fusing vertebrae to stop them from shifting, sliding, or otherwise impinging on the nerves or on the spinal cord.  This is done by removing the disc between two vertebrae and replacing it with a spacer, removing a portion of bone on the vertebrae, and installing rods on the left and right side of the vertebrae.  These rods are screwed into the vertebrae and essentially “lock” the vertebrae in place.  This prevents them from hitting the affected nerves or spinal cord.

Over time, new bone growth will start to form over the spacer and around the rods which will further fuse the vertebrae together.  Sometimes metal plates are also used to help the process, as well as bone grafts.

A cervical fusion is a permanent procedure and it is irreversible.  There will always be a range of motion decrease in a cervical fusion because two or more vertebrae—which used to freely move left and right as well as up and down—can no longer do that.  Most victims who have a cervical fusion after a car accident in New York will have a permanent limitation on the amount of weight they can hold, pull, push, or carry for the rest of their lives, often with that limitation increasing as they age.

Did You Suffer a Serious Spine Injury After a Motor Vehicle Accident in New York?  Call Our Experienced Car Accident Lawyer for Help

A cervical fusion after a car accident in New York is a very serious and catastrophic type of personal injury.  Defense lawyers and insurance adjusters will often hotly contest a spine injury such as a cervical fusion.  That means that this type of case must be handled by an experienced car accident lawyer to ensure that you recover the full value of your injuries.

This is why you should call the O’Connor Law Firm to speak with our experienced car accident lawyer in New York.  We handle cases in Staten Island, Brooklyn, New York City, The Bronx, Queens, Long Island, and in surrounding areas.  Call to schedule your FREE consultation by dialing (718) 948-3500 or using our “Contact Us” box available here.