Damage to the spinal cord can be caused by a number of incidents, including car accidents, sports injuries, hard knocks or falls. Injures to the spine can also occur as a result of conditions that weaken the bones, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Spinal cord injuries should be treated immediately, and in some cases, surgery is required. Surgery can be performed for one of the following reasons:

• To realign the vertebrae
• To fuse broken bones
• To place spinal braces
• To remove tissue or fluids that are placing pressure on the spinal cord
• To remove bone and disc fragments that are causing pain and discomfort