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All three can occur. Cells and axons are stretched and sheared when
compression displaces the spinal cord.
At the compression site, there
are axons, neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendroglial cells. Depending
on the velocity and extent of the stretching and shearing, cellular
damage occurs to these cells. If the injury causes bleeding, the blood
is toxic to cells and contributes to the injury.
Finally, the injured
tissues release a variety of chemicals that causes further tissue
damage. These include free radicals, inflammatory cytokines, neurotoxic
neurotransmitters, and other chemicals.