Matthew Stafford Injury Explained: What Is Spinal Cord Contusion? Is It Dangerous?

Rams quarterback Matthew Safford was placed on injured reserve on Saturday, which triggered rumors that the player will not be back for the rest of the season.

Los Angeles coach Sean McVay announced in a press conference that Stafford sustained a spinal cord contusion. According to McVay, because of the injury, the Rams quarterback could "probably" be stepping back for the rest of the year.

Stafford missed three of the past four games. The Rams quarterback suffered a neck injury in Week 11 Rams game with New Orleans Saints after clearing protocol from a previous concussion.

Meanwhile, John Wolford started his second game for the Rams this season on Sunday and finished 14-of-26 passing for 178 yards with two interceptions.

Wolford also rushed for 29 years and seen to likely to start the rest of the way for the Los Angeles team.

Matthew Stafford Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord contusion is described as an injury that was caused by the crushing of the cord with part of its tissue spared.

The injury's severity is mainly judged by the physiological status of the remaining nerve fibers, whether the action potentials can pass through "smoothly, hampered, or totally lost."

The spinal cord injury also occurs when the spinal cord itself is bruised, resulting in inflammation and bleeding from delicate blood vessels near the injured area.

Spinal cord contusion-induced swelling can also hinder nerve impulses that travel from the brain to the rest of the body. It usually causes numbness or tingling in the extremities.

There is a wide range of symptoms that patients might feel depending on the severity, location, and level of injury.

There might be pain or stiffness in the neck, mid-back, or lower back. There can also be a burning pain that spreads to the arms, buttocks, or down into the legs.

Those with spinal cord contusion might also experience loss of sensation in the feet, trouble with hand coordination, weakness in a foot that causes a limp or gait and is usually called "foot drop," and loss of sexual ability.

Matthew Stafford Injury

Stafford has not been on the field since he injured his neck in the Rams' loss to the New Orleans Saints. In the game, he was also evaluated for a concussion.

McVay later said that Stafford felt some numbness in his legs after being hit in that game. The quarterback was then cleared of the concussion protocol on Friday.

The Rams quarterback was first placed on concussion protocol on November 8.

McVay said that the team's medical staff determined "that they felt like that was the best thing for him."

A concussion protocol is an organization's set of tools and assessments when caring for a concussion.

Physicians and NFL Players Association advisors review the protocol each year in an effort to ensure players do not reenter games if there are symptoms of dizziness or confusion.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Rams QB Matthew Stafford on IR, Wolford gets the nod against Seattle - from ABC 7