There are about 450,000 victims of spinal cord injury in the United States. Over half 60 percent are 30 years of age or less and most are male. An estimated 12,000 people a year sustain a spinal cord injury (SCI). Among the most frequent causes of SCIs are sports and work related accidents, with auto accidents, gunshot wounds and such diseases as Spina Bifida and Polio also responsible. Victims of SCI are vulnerable to many secondary illnesses, such as respiratory disease and urinary infection.

Spinal Cord Injury Facts

An estimated 60 percent of the 12,000 people who sustain spinal cord injuries each year are 30 years old or younger, and most are men. 450,000 of those with SCI live in the US. Spinal cord injuries are often from work and sports related accidents and falls. Car accidents, gunshots and diseases such as Polio and Spina bifida are also common causes.

Importance of the Spinal Cord

Your spinal cord extends from the base of the brain to the waist. Its nerves are your body's messengers, with upper motor neurons that carry instructions and replies between the brain and spinal nerves. From there, the spinal nerves' lower motor neurons take over, extending to other parts of the body. Typically the higher on the spinal cord an injury occurs, the greater the dysfunction that results.

Effects of spinal cord injuries

Spinal cord injuries can be incomplete or complete. With an incomplete injury, some function still remains below the level of the injury, making partial limb movement possible, as well as feeling without movement. But with complete injury, all function below the level of injury is lost, with neither sensation nor voluntary movement possible.

Recovery from spinal cord injuries not yet possible

There's still no recovery for spinal cord injuries, but there have been major advances in treatment, with reduction in damage at the time of the injury and steroids that help contain secondary damage.