Nearly 12,000 cases of new spinal cord injuries are recorded each year in the U.S. Spinal cord injuries often results in paralysis and may lead to total loss of sensation and muscle control below the level of the injury. Most spinal cord injury cases are the result of trauma –meaning they’re caused by a forceful accident such as a traffic accident or a fall from heights.
Complete vs. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
Vertebrae are the bones that protect the spinal column, but these hard bones can be broken or dislocated by trauma, often caused by a fall or motor vehicle accident. Pressure, pinching, or severing the spinal cord can leave an accident victim paralyzed. In certain cases, treating a less-severe, incomplete injury promptly can greatly increase the probability of recovery.
- Complete Injuries: In severe cases, the spinal cord is severed entirely, resulting in total paralysis below the injury site. Paralysis of the lower body and lower extremities is called paraplegia, while paralysis in all limbs, with an injury site above the chest or shoulders is known as quadriplegia. The effects of a complete injury are permanent and irreversible.
- Incomplete Injuries: Some trauma might pinch or squeeze, but not completely sever, the spinal cord. Cartilage discs located between the vertebrae might be displaced or ruptured by the force of a fall or other accident. Displacement or damage to vertebrae or discs can place pressure directly on the spinal cord. Blood flow might also be temporarily blocked and leaking spinal fluid can also fill the spinal canal and increase pressure on the cord – producing temporary or limited paralysis.
A spinal cord injury is a serious medical emergency requiring immediate treatment. In any case where a spinal cord injury is suspected, call 911 for emergency medical assistance and keep the patient calm. The injured person should lie still and should not be moved or repositioned unless it is absolutely necessary for his/her immediate safety.
Spinal Cord Injury Statistics
- Men account for nearly 82% of spinal cord injury patients.
- 50-70% of all new spinal cord injury cases each year consist of people ages 15-35.
- 2/3 of sports/recreation-related spinal cord injuries result from diving.
- Estimated racial/ethnic distribution in all SCI patients:
- White: 67%
- African American: 24%
- Hispanic: 8%
- Other (Native American/Asian): 1%
- Breakdown of spinal cord injuries by Neurological Category
- Quadriplegia, incomplete 31.2%
- Quadriplegia, complete 17.5%
- Paraplegia, incomplete 23.1%
- Paraplegia, complete 28.2%
- Average Hospital Stays for SCI Patients:
- Quadriplegics 95 days
- Paraplegics 67 days
- All (average) 79 days
- Less than 1% of spinal cord injury patients experience complete neurologic recovery by hospital discharge.
- From 1973-79, the average age at injury was 28.7 years, since 2010, the average age at injury is now 42.6 years.
- 57.1% of spinal cord injury patients were employed at the time of injury.
- One year after injury, only 11.8% of SCI patients remain employed or go back to work.
- Marital Status: 51.6% of patients are single at the time the injury occurs. The likelihood of getting married after a spinal cord injury is slightly reduced, as is the probability of an existing marriage remaining intact in comparison with non-injured people.
Estimated Lifetime Costs of Living / Treating Spinal Cord Injuries
The following totals in US dollars each denote the average yearly expenses of treating a spinal cord injury. The initial year includes acute post-injury treatments and accounts for the cost of new medical equipment, changes around the home, and adaptive / assistive devices. Future expenses are adjusted to reflect the value of a dollar as of 2013.
- High Tetraplegia: First Year=$1,044,197 Following Years=$181,328
- Low Tetraplegia: First Year=$754,524, Following Years=$111,237
- Paraplegia: First Year=$508,904 Following Years=$67,415
- Incomplete motor function of any level: First Year=$340,787, Following Years=$41,393
The totals below denote the average lifetime costs adjusted to reflect 2013 dollar values based on the average age of the initial injury:
- High Tetraplegia: at 25 years old=$4,633,137, at 50 years old=$2,546,294
- Low Tetraplegia: at 25 years old=$3,385,259, at 50 years old=$2,082,237
- Paraplegia: at 25 years old=$2,265,584, at 50 years old=$1,486,835
- Incomplete motor function of any level: at 25 years old=$1,547,858, at 50 years old=$1,092,521
References:
Spinal Cord Injury Association of Illinois
