Spinal Cord Injury Facts and  Causes

Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) are a severe form of back injuries and affect an ever-growing number of Americans each year. There are 10,500 to 11,000 new spinal cord injuries reported in the United States each year, and the majority of them occur in males between the ages of sixteen and thirty. However many researchers and health professionals believe that these figures are significantly under represented. Paraplegia and Quadriplegia can often result from severe injuries and in the worst cases death occurs. Many of those who do suffer from some sort of spinal cord injury inevitably must receive a form of specialized care, whether it is from a hospital or a specialty facility, like CareMeridian.

SCIs can occur from any number of incidents, but the majority can be summed up in four categories: automotive accidents, falls, sporting related injuries, and forms of violence. However the cause with the highest incidence of SCI is automotive accidents, holding approximately 48% of the total spinal cord injuries. While SCIs are not completely avoidable measures can be taken to prevent such injuries. To prevent automotive accident related injuries passengers should always wear a seatbelt and drive within the speed limit so as to avoid an accident or a high-speed collision.  Those who are driving motorcycles or bicycles should always wear a helmet to protect their head. Athletes should too wear a helmet if the sport requires as well as the appropriate body padding. While motor vehicle accidents are the primary cause of SCI overall, falls become the leading cause for individuals over the age of 45. Individuals can do there best to avoid situations where they may experience a fall like avoid slippery surfaces; try to avoid climbing on unsteady objects, etc. If individuals take these simple safety precautions SCIs can be significantly reduced.