Why are some spinal cord injuries more serious than others?

Why are some spinal cord injuries more serious than others?

Les Weiner (Former Chair of the Department of Neurology, University of Southern California) gives expert video advice on: How do neurologists repair nerve damage of the brain?; Why are some spinal cord injuries more serious than others?; Is there anything I can do to prevent or decrease my chances of developing a neurological disorder? and more...

In an adult, the lumbar spine from about L1 down has no spinal cord, but it has the roots, it has the nerves that have come from the spinal cord that are going to the lower extremities there in that spinal canal. So, when you have a herniated disc it's the root that gets compressed--you have a fracture it's the root that gets compressed. Whereas if you have a fracture of your neck or a fracture of your thoracic spine you do run the risk of compressing the spinal cord, which is a considerably more difficult thing and winds up with paralysis.