Health Information

Spinal Cord

What is a spine?

The spine not only allows us to stand up and walk, but it also carries important messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Injury to the spinal cord can result in both sensory and motor disabilities, affecting a person's ability to move and control muscles and affecting the function of organs such as the bladder.

Spinal cord injuries cause interruptions in message systems from the brain to the rest of the body. These injuries can be the result of accidents or conditions which damage the spinal cord.

UHN Resources

UHN Brochures and Pamphlets

• Anterior Cervical Surgery

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• Balloon Kyphoplasty Procedure
• Krembil Neuroscience Centre

  English	Chinese	Portuguese

• Lumbar Microdiscectomy
  

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• Lumbar Surgery with Fusion

  English	Chinese	Italian	Portuguese

• Lumbar Surgery without Fusion

  English	Chinese	Italian	Portuguese

• Myelogram
• One Level Anterior Cervical Decompression & Fusion
• Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy
• Posterior Cervical Microdisectomy
• Posterior Cervical Surgery

  English	Chinese	Italian	Portuguese

• Using a Jewett Brace
• Vertebral Augmentation

UHN Clinics or Centres

• Spinal Program
• Spinal Cord Clinic

Related Web sites

• Canadian Spinal Research Organization
  Information for persons with a spinal cord injury and those with related neurological deficits.
• Ask NOAH: Spinal Cord Disorders
  Learn spinal cord injuries and disorders, their care and treatment, as well as complications and related concerns.
• Spineuniverse.com
  Provides the most complete and thorough collection of back information on the Internet.
• North American Spine Society
  NASS is a multidisciplinary organization that advances quality spine care through education, research and advocacy.   View their information sheets, brochures, and quizzes on specific spine condition from their “Get Back to Health!” page.
• Sexual Health & Fertility after Brain & Spinal Cord Impairment
  Developed by the practicing physicians and sexual health nurses, this site covers a wide variety of topics related to sexual health and fertility after spinal cord injury.