•Other than the spinal cord itself, a number of body systems are affected following the spinal cord injury:
•Neurogenic shock- involves the whole nervous system
•Thromboembolism- stagnant blood inside the veins may form clots
•Bed sores - due to immobility
•Ectopic bone formation
•Pain – not only in the acute phase, also in chronic phase
•Mental health is compromised leading to depression, anxiety, shock
•Autonomic dysregulation involving heart, breathing, bowel movements, bladder control, sweating, temperature dysregulation and sexual dysfunction.
•In severe cases of quadriplegia, autonomic dysreflexia may happen where the patient suffers from very high blood pressure, low hear rate, low respiration rate, excessive sweating and hot flushed skin. This happens without warning and may be life threatening if left untreated.