Traumatic spinal injuries — from motor vehicle accidents, falls, and sports — range from stable fractures that heal with bracing to unstable injuries threatening the spinal cord that require urgent surgery. Dr. Chavarria's orthopedic trauma and spine fellowship training equips him to evaluate and manage the full spectrum of spinal injuries across all regions of the spine.
What are the symptoms?
- Severe back or neck pain immediately following an injury
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs
- Inability to move a limb or loss of sensation (signs of spinal cord involvement — a medical emergency)
- Loss of bowel or bladder control (a sign of significant neural compression requiring urgent evaluation)
- Visible deformity or tenderness over the spine
- Muscle spasm and guarding around the injured area
What causes it?
- Motor vehicle accidents: A leading cause of cervical and thoracolumbar fractures, including high-energy burst fractures and fracture-dislocations
- Falls: Particularly from height, and in older adults even ground-level falls can cause significant fractures
- Sports injuries: Diving, football, skiing, and other high-impact activities
- Osteoporosis or tumor: Weakened bone can fracture with lower-energy trauma (pathologic fracture)
How is it diagnosed?
CT scan is the primary study for traumatic spinal injuries — it precisely defines the fracture pattern and assesses spinal stability. MRI evaluates the spinal cord, intervertebral discs, and the ligaments that hold the spine together — critical for determining whether an injury is stable or unstable. A detailed neurological examination is performed and documented immediately to establish baseline function and guide the urgency of treatment.
Your Non-Surgical Roadmap — Surgery Is the Last Step
Most patients with this condition get better without surgery. Here's the path Dr. Chavarria follows before an operation is ever on the table:
- 1
Start conservative
Physical therapy, activity changes, anti-inflammatory or nerve medication, and time — the first line for nearly every spine condition.
- 2
Add targeted relief
If symptoms persist, image-guided injections (epidural or nerve blocks) can calm inflammation and pinpoint the source of pain — often avoiding surgery entirely.
- 3
Re-evaluate together
Dr. Chavarria reviews your progress and imaging with you, honestly, and explains exactly where you stand — no pressure, no rush to the OR.
- 4
Surgery — only if it's truly the best option
Reserved for severe or worsening nerve compression, instability, or when conservative care has had a fair chance. When it is right, you'll understand why and what to expect.
Treatment Options in Reno, NV — Conservative Care First
Stable fractures without neurological compromise are often treated non-surgically with bracing and a structured return to activity. Unstable fractures, fractures with spinal cord or nerve compression, or injuries causing neurological deficit require surgical decompression and stabilization. Dr. Chavarria performs urgent decompression to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and uses pedicle screw-rod constructs to stabilize the injured segment. The goal is always to protect neurological function, restore spinal stability and alignment, and allow the earliest possible mobilization and rehabilitation.
Treatment Procedures
Spinal Trauma Surgery
Spinal trauma — from vertebral fractures to ligamentous injuries to spinal cord involvement — requires rapid, accurate assessment and surgical stabilization when indicated. Dr. Chavarria has experience managing the full spectrum of traumatic spinal injuries, from cervical fracture-dislocations to thoracolumbar burst fractures, with the goal of protecting neurological function and restoring spinal stability.
Learn More →Posterior Cervical Fusion
Posterior cervical fusion approaches the cervical spine from the back of the neck to decompress the spinal cord and stabilize multiple vertebral levels with screws and rods. It is used for conditions where the anterior approach is not sufficient — including multilevel cervical stenosis with myelopathy, cervical instability, deformity, and cases where posterior bone anatomy needs to be directly addressed.
Learn More →Lumbar Spinal Fusion (TLIF/PLIF)
Lumbar spinal fusion permanently connects two or more vertebrae together, eliminating painful motion at an unstable or severely degenerated spinal segment. Techniques such as TLIF (Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion) and PLIF (Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion) restore disc height, decompress the nerve, and stabilize the spine — and can be performed with minimally invasive techniques through small incisions.
Learn More →Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that treats painful vertebral compression fractures — most commonly caused by osteoporosis — by inserting a balloon into the collapsed vertebra, inflating it to restore height, and filling the cavity with bone cement. Most patients experience dramatic pain relief within 24–48 hours and go home the same or next day.
Learn More →