Cervical spine injury. These are much more serious. The most dangerous complication of spinal cord injury is impairment of respiration. The cervical spinal cord contains the cell bodies of nerve cells responsible for controlling the diaphragm. If these cell bodies are injured the diaphragm is not contracted during inspiration and breathing is impaired.
Mortality rates are higher in patients with complete spinal cord transections.
Overall, long-term survival and rehabilitation for survivors is directly related to the level and extent of the lesion, the age of patient, and the overall quality of medical and rehabilitation care. The most imprtant factor overall is probably the severity of injury at the moment of impact. The most important specific treatment for spinal cord injury is the administration of high doses of a steroid drug known as methylprednisolone. Research has shown that methylprednisolone is effective for the treatment of both complete and incomplete spinal cord injury. In order to be effective, however, it must be given as soon as possible, and at least within eight hours of the injury.