Spinal Cord Injury Statistics & Prevalence In The US

A spinal cord injury can be devastating for your career, and physical health depends on its severity. Whether you injured your spine in a car crash from disease or the result of medical malpractice, the damage can be long-lasting.

Global Prevalence

According to the World Health Organization, this injury is common in 40 to 80 cases per million. Most of them result from traumatic causes, but the non-traumatic cases are also rising.

The symptoms of this injury depend on its severity and location. These can include complete or partial loss of motor control in the arms, legs, or any part of the body. Some can also affect bowel and bladder control, heart rate, and blood pressure if they are serious enough—most people who suffer from this injury experience chronic pain for the rest of their life.

Prevalence in the US

As per statistics, in the US, a person injures their spinal cord every hour of every day. Let’s put this into perspective. According to studies conducted by the National SCI Statistical Center (NSCISC):

• There are approximately 17,800 new SCI injuries in the US every year
• Men account for almost 80 percent of cases
• About 294,000 people live with the injury in the US, and most of them are over 40 years old
• Most people who get an SCI stay in the hospital for 11 days but can spend a month in rehab afterward

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

According to Spine Universe, the top causes of SCI include the following:

• Acts of violence – approximately 13 percent
• Slip and fall accidents – approximately 31 percent
• Sporting accidents – approximately 8 percent
• Medical complications – approximately 4 percent of cases

SCI Severity Range

The severity of a spinal injury depends on its location as well as whether it is complete or partial:

Complete SCI

Complete loss of function and feeling below the injured area.

Incomplete SCI

There is some sensation or movement below the injured part of the spine.

Depending on the type of SCI you have, you can suffer from paraplegia or tetraplegia. The former is paralysis of both legs, and the latter, aka quadriplegia, can paralyze both arms.

High tetraplegia manifests if your SCI is at the top of your spine or neck and low tetraplegia occurs in the lower spine. If your spine was injured because of someone else’s negligence and you suffered from any of these two conditions, hire an Illinois spinal cord injury attorney. Get the compensation you deserve so you don’t have to pay for treatment and rehab out of pocket.

Contact Robert Edens for a Legal Consultation If You’ve Had A Serious Spinal Injury

Thousands of people are denied worker’s compensation in Illinois every year, whether their injuries are severe or mild. They should be compensated for damages in either case, but some employers may make their lives difficult by denying their claim.

 

If you or someone you know suffered a spinal cord injury at work, contact the Law Office of Robert T. Edens today. Get an experienced Illinois spinal cord injury attorney who can fight for your rights till you get the compensation you deserve.