Falls and other workplace accidents may result in serious injuries, including spinal cord injuries, for workers. Depending on the location and severity of such injuries, workers who suffer spinal cord trauma may experience partial or total loss of sensation, as well as paralysis.
Spinal cord injuries may stabilize with appropriate emergency treatment and time. However, workers who suffer such trauma may still require lifelong treatment and care.
Supportive care
According to MayoClinic.org, workers may require supportive care for spinal cord injuries after stabilization of the original trauma. Medical staff may focus their efforts on preventing and providing relief from secondary complications that may arise. Some of the possible complications injured workers may face include bladder and bowel issues, pressure ulcers, muscle contractures, deconditioning and blood clots. Supportive care for such conditions may then include, for example, medications, surgery, position rotations, and aids such as canes or wheelchairs.
Rehabilitation
According to the National Institutes of Health, injured workers may benefit from rehabilitation to aid with the effects and complications of spinal cord injuries. Physical therapy may help those with spinal cord injuries to strengthen their muscles and improve their muscle communication and mobility. Occupational therapy may help people relearn or maintain their fine motor skills, and vocational therapy may teach people with spinal cord injuries the adaptive techniques they need to get back to work.
Suffering spinal cord injuries may drastically alter people’s health and lifestyles moving forward. Therefore, workers who suffer such trauma due to occupational falls or other such accidents may rely on workers’ compensation benefits provided through their employers.