Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an important contributing factor to
morbidity and mortality in the U.S. Spinal cord trauma can be
caused by any number of injuries to the spine. They can result
from motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries
(particularly diving into shallow water), industrial accidents,
gunshot wounds, assault, and other causes. A spinal cord trauma
is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment to reduce
the long-term effects. The time between the injury and treatment
is a critical factor affecting the eventual outcome. How well a
person does depends on the level of injury. Injuries near the
top of the spine result in more extensive disability than do
injuries low in the spine. FIND RESOURCES IN YOUR AREA There are
many resources available to survivors of spinal cord injury.
Please review our Spinal Cord Injury Resource Guide to find out
more. Did You Know?