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.
What Is Spinal Trauma?
Traumatic spinal injuries occur most commonly after motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries, and workplace accidents. The injury may involve the bony vertebrae (fractures), the ligamentous structures that hold the spine together (ligamentous disruption), the intervertebral discs, or the spinal cord and nerve roots themselves. The severity ranges from stable fractures requiring only bracing to highly unstable injuries with spinal cord compression demanding urgent surgical decompression and stabilization.
Surgical management is indicated when the spine is unstable — meaning it cannot protect the neural elements from further injury with normal activity — or when neurological deficit is present and decompression may allow recovery. The specific surgical approach depends on the location and type of injury. Cervical fracture-dislocations are often addressed from the front (anterior), back (posterior), or both. Thoracolumbar burst fractures are typically stabilized with posterior pedicle screw-rod constructs, sometimes combined with an anterior or lateral reconstruction when significant vertebral body destruction is present.
Dr. Chavarria's orthopedic training and spine surgery fellowship exposed him to a high volume of traumatic spinal injuries across all regions of the spine. He works closely with trauma and critical care teams to manage polytrauma patients and coordinates timing of spine surgery with the overall resuscitation and stabilization of the injured patient.
Are You a Candidate?
- Patients with unstable spinal fractures — burst fractures, fracture-dislocations, or injuries with significant ligamentous disruption — that cannot be safely treated with bracing alone
- Patients with neurological deficit (weakness, numbness, bowel/bladder dysfunction) from spinal cord or nerve root compression requiring urgent decompression
- Patients with stable fractures that fail brace management or cause unacceptable pain and functional limitation
- Patients with traumatic cervical instability requiring surgical fusion to protect the spinal cord
- Patients with pathologic fractures (due to tumor or severe osteoporosis) causing instability or neurological compromise
What to Expect
Acute evaluation: Traumatic spinal injuries are evaluated with CT scan (to assess fracture pattern and stability) and MRI (to assess spinal cord, disc, and ligamentous injury). Neurological examination is performed and documented immediately. When urgent surgical decompression is needed, timing is determined based on neurological status.
Day of surgery: The procedure varies widely by injury level and pattern — from a straightforward posterior thoracolumbar stabilization taking 2–3 hours to complex cervical injury management requiring front-and-back surgery. Neuromonitoring is used throughout to protect the spinal cord.
Hospital recovery: Most trauma patients require 3–7 days of inpatient care before transfer to rehabilitation. The rehabilitation setting and intensity depend on neurological status — patients with spinal cord injury will work with a specialized rehabilitation team.
Long term: Bony healing of the instrumented spine is confirmed radiographically at 3, 6, and 12 months. Neurological recovery, when present, may continue for 12–18 months after injury. Return to work and activity is guided by injury severity and the demands of the patient's occupation.
Why Choose Dr. Chavarria for Your Spinal Trauma in Reno?
- Urgent decompression can prevent progression of neurological injury and allow partial or full recovery
- Surgical stabilization eliminates painful fracture instability and allows earlier mobilization and rehabilitation
- Avoids the complications of prolonged bracing or bedrest in polytrauma patients
- Pedicle screw constructs provide immediate, durable stability across the injury zone
- Coordinated care with trauma and rehabilitation teams for comprehensive injury management
- Experience across all spinal regions — cervical, thoracic, and lumbar traumatic injuries