Falls frequently cause elderly nursing home residents to suffer spinal cord injuries. These injuries may leave residents suffering with severe damages, like chronic pain or paralysis. Nursing home residents may sometimes fall under unforeseeable circumstances. But if the incident is the result of preventable negligence, families may be able to seek compensation for their loved ones damages.
At PKSD, we help injured victims every day and are deeply committed to protecting the legal rights of the elderly in Wisconsin. If you suspect your family member has been injured due to negligence or acts of abuse, we want to help you.
Not sure if you have a case? Your initial consultation is completely FREE. Many people wait to seek legal help because they are either worried about the costs or they don’t think they have a case. Our knowledgeable nursing home neglect and abuse lawyers in Albuquerque have extensive experience managing these types of cases. Call our law offices today to tell us more about your situation. We are ready to help you understand your rights, including whether you may be able to seek compensation for medical costs and other losses.
Call to schedule a free consultation today: 505-677-7777.
What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries in Nursing Homes in Albuquerque?
Spinal cord injuries in Albuquerque nursing homes may result from multiple factors. Sometimes, it is an accident that could not have been foreseen or prevented. But if it is the result of systemic failures in resident care, such as not adhering to safety protocols, you may have a case. Here are some common scenarios that could result in a nursing home spinal cord injury.
Falls
Falls account for most spinal cord injuries in nursing homes. Residents may slip on a wet floor, trip on a hazard in the hallway, or fall while trying to get out of bed on their own. These incidents often occur when staff fail to respond to call buttons promptly or leave residents unattended.
Improper Patient Transfers
Staff members who have not been properly trained may drop a resident during routine transfers from beds to wheelchairs or from beds to bathroom facilities. The risk of this happening is higher if caregivers attempt transfers without adequate help, use incorrect lifting techniques, or rush through procedures.
Understaffing and Poor Supervision
Chronic understaffing is another long-term issue in nursing homes. When there are not enough staff to meet acceptable standards of care, residents may be placed in immediate danger. Unerstaffing results in a team of overworked, burnt-out staff who cannot provide individualized attention to each resident’. These kinds of situations often result in residents trying to do things they can no longer safely do independently, like getting out of bed and into a wheelchair.
Medical Equipment Failures
Broken wheelchairs, malfunctioning bed rails, defective patient lifts, and unstable mobility aids are just. afew of the medical equipment failures that could cause a resident to fall or be dropped. Nursing homes may be liable if their equipment failures are the result of using outdated equipment they knew or should have known had not been properly maintained.
Medication Errors
Incorrect dosages, wrong medications, or dangerous drug combinations cause dizziness, confusion, weakness, or loss of coordination. These side effects increase the risk of residents falling or losing balance during everyday activities.
What Are the Most Common Types of Spinal Cord Injuries?
The type of spinal cord injury your loved one may have sustained can be determined through a proper medical examination and diagnostic imaging. The most common types of injuries to the spinal cord include:
- Complete vs. Incomplete Injuries: Complete spinal cord injuries cause total loss of feeling and movement below the injury, leading to permanent paralysis. Incomplete injuries allow some movement or sensation and offer a better chance of recovery.
- Cervical Injuries (Neck Region): Neck (cervical) injuries can cause paralysis in both arms and legs (quadriplegia). These residents often need breathing support and full-time care. Falls and improper transfers are common causes.
- Thoracic Injuries (Mid-Back): Mid-back injuries typically cause paralysis in the legs (paraplegia), but the arms remain functional. Residents can use their upper body, but often need a wheelchair.
- Lumbar Injuries (Lower Back): Low-back injuries cause leg weakness or paralysis. Some residents may still walk with help and have better bladder and bowel control.
- Compression Fractures: Compression fractures occur when a bone in the spine collapses, typically in elderly individuals with osteoporosis. They cause pain and raise the risk of future fractures.
- Central Cord Syndrome: A common incomplete spinal cord injury in nursing home residents, affecting the center of the spinal cord. It usually causes more weakness in the arms and legs, with some lower body functions remaining unaffected.
- Hyperextension and Hyperflexion Injuries: This typically occurs when the spine bends too far backward, often resulting in a backward fall. Hyperflexion injuries happen when the spine bends too far forward, usually during forward falls or improper transfers.
How Do I Know My Loved One’s Spinal Cord Injuries Are Serious?
You can know the warning signs and subtle changes that may indicate severe damage when you recognize the severity of your loved one’s spinal cord injuries. Early identification can be essential for your loved one’s recovery and long-term prognosis.
Immediate Physical Warning Signs
Loss of movement in arms, legs, or both is the most obvious indicator of serious spinal cord injury. Complete loss of sensation below a certain level on the body also indicates severe spinal damage requiring immediate medical attention.
Severe neck or back pain that your loved one describes as unlike anything they have experienced before often accompanies serious spinal injuries. This pain is typically constant, sharp, or burning and worsens with movement.
Breathing Problems
Difficulty breathing or changes in breathing patterns can indicate high-level spinal cord injuries affecting respiratory muscles. Watch for shallow breathing, difficulty taking deep breaths, or struggles with normal respiratory function.
Loss of Body Functions
Sudden loss of bladder or bowel control often indicates severe spinal cord damage, mainly when it occurs after an incident. New onset incontinence following trauma suggests significant spinal involvement.
Neurological Symptoms
Tingling, numbness, or burning sensations that persist or worsen over time may indicate spinal cord injury. Changes in reflexes, including absent knee-jerk responses, also suggest neurological damage.
Progressive Worsening
Symptoms that continue to worsen over hours or days following an incident indicate a severe spinal cord injury requiring immediate medical intervention. New symptoms appearing after the initial injury suggest more extensive damage than initially apparent.
Communication and Swallowing Issues
Problems speaking, swallowing difficulties, or changes in voice quality can indicate high cervical spinal cord injuries. These symptoms require immediate medical evaluation.
Temperature and Circulation Changes
Inability to regulate body temperature or changes in skin color, such as pale hands or feet, may suggest circulation problems related to spinal cord injury.
Can an Albuquerque Nursing Home Be Liable for Resident Spinal Cord Injuries?
Yes, Albuquerque nursing homes can be held legally liable for resident spinal cord injuries when their negligence, inadequate care, or safety violations contribute to accidents. New Mexico law requires nursing facilities to maintain specific standards of care that protect residents from preventable harm.
To hold a nursing home liable, families must prove the facility:
- Owed a duty of care
- The resident suffered damages
- Breached that duty through negligent actions
- The breach directly caused the spinal cord injury
Signs of Negligence and Abuse That Can Lead to Spinal Cord Injuries
Families can protect their loved ones from catastrophic spinal cord injuries when they recognize the warning signs of negligence and abuse in nursing homes. These red flags often appear before serious incidents occur, giving families opportunities to intervene and prevent devastating harm.
- Physical Signs of Neglect: Unexplained bruises on the back, neck, or torso may indicate rough handling or falls that could cause spinal damage.
- Behavioral Changes: Sudden fear around specific staff members may indicate physical abuse that could escalate spinal injuries.
- Staffing and Training Red Flags: High staff turnover creates hazardous conditions with inexperienced caregivers using improper techniques. Rushed, overwhelmed, or frustrated staff suggest understaffing, which increases the likelihood of accidents.
- Restraint Misuse and Improper Handling: Visible restraint marks or complaints about being tied down indicate improper use that can cause spinal injuries.
- Family Access Restrictions: Facilities that discourage visits or restrict family access may be hiding problems.
How Delayed Emergency Care Makes Nursing Home Spinal Cord Injuries Worse
Delayed emergency medical response in nursing homes can transform treatable spinal cord injuries into permanent disabilities or life-threatening complications. The critical hours immediately following spinal trauma represent a narrow window where prompt intervention can prevent irreversible damage and save lives.
Spinal cord injuries trigger inflammatory responses that cause tissue swelling within the spinal canal. This swelling compresses healthy nerve tissue and restricts blood flow to critical areas.
Without prompt intervention, damaged spinal cord areas become oxygen-deprived, causing healthy nerve cells to die. Emergency responders can restore blood flow and protect surviving tissue, but a delayed response allows oxygen deprivation to expand permanent damage.
The longer that nursing home staff delay emergency care, the more it can prove their negligence. How they handle when a resident is hurt can play a role in your case.
Do You Need Legal Help for a Spinal Injury in Albuquerque Due to Negligence? Call PKSD Today
Spinal cord injuries in Albuquerque nursing homes devastate families and destroy the quality of life your loved one deserves. These catastrophic injuries often stem from preventable negligence that nursing facilities must be held accountable through legal action.
If your loved one suffered from a spinal injury in a nursing facility, contact PKSD for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn your legal options. You can also fill out our online contact form to reach out to our firm.
PKSD is here to support you and your family throughout the legal process. 505-677-7777
