What are some of the other health issues associated with spinal cord injuries?

Some of the most serious medical complications resulting from spinal cord injuries involve the function of the autonomic nervous system. They include:

  • Bladder and bowel dysfunction
  • Bony dysfunction
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  • Heterotopic ossification (HO) and cysts
  • Hyperthermia
  • Neuropathic spinal cord pain
  • Osteoporosis and fractures
  • Respiratory dysfunction, pneumonia, atelectasis (collapsed lung), aspiration, restrictive lung disease
  • Loss of sexual function
  • Postural (orthostatic) hypotension
  • Spasticity
  • Syringomyelia
  • Vascular dysfunction
  • Shortened lifespan