Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when a traumatic event results in damage to cells within the spinal cord or severs the nerve tracts that relay signals up and down the spinal cord. The most common types of SCI include contusion (bruising of the spinal cord) and compression (caused by pressure on the spinal cord). Other types of injuries include lacerations (severing or tearing of some nerve fibers, such as damage caused by a gun shot wound), and central cord syndrome (specific damage to the corticospinal tracts of the cervical region of the spinal cord). Severe SCI often causes paralysis (loss of control over voluntary movement and muscles of the body) and loss of sensation and reflex function below the point of injury, including autonomic activity such as breathing and other activities such as bowel and bladder control. Other symptoms such as pain or sensitivity to stimuli, muscle spasms, and sexual dysfunction may develop over time. SCI patients are also prone to develop secondary medical problems, such as bladder infections, lung infections, and bed sores.

Who Do Spinal Cord Injuries Affect in the United States?

Currently 250,000 Americans are spinal cord injured (SCI). Every 49 minutes, an American is spinal cord injured. The following is more facts about Spinal Cord Injury in the United States:

• 52% of spinal cord injured individuals are considered paraplegic (losses of movement and sensation in the lower body) and 46% quadriplegic (losses of movement and sensation in both the arms and legs).
• Approximately 11,000 new injuries occur each year.
• 82% are male and approximately half (46.5%) are married at the time of injury.
• 55% of injuries occur between the ages of 16 and 30.
• The average age of spinal cord injured person is 32.

Cause

Spinal cord injuries are most commonly caused by:

• Vehicular accidents 38.5%
• Violence 30%
• Falls 19%
• Sports-related 8%
• Other 4.5%

If you or your family has been suffered from Spinal Cord Injury which was caused by the negligence of another, you may be entitled to monetary compensation.

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