Vascular Dysfunction

The early stages following spinal cord injury results in a "shock-like" situation (termed spinal shock) wherein all neurological function below the level of the injury essentially stops.  This includes loss of nerve supply to blood vessels and other supportive structure such as blood vessel dilatation and constriction.  As a result, edema develops. There is a lack of blood return to the heart when the person is in the sitting position.  This is called orthostatic hypotension and can be a persistent problems in some patients after spinal cord injury.