A spinal cord injury (SCI) is typically caused by a traumatic blow to (or penetration of) the spine that fractures or dislocates vertebrae. The trauma causes the resulting bone fragments, material in the spinal discs, or ligaments to bruise or tear into spinal cord tissue, damaging it or, in some cases, severing the cord entirely and resulting in partial or complete paralysis. The NICHD supports basic research related to SCI and promotes the development and application of devices, including prosthetics and wheelchairs, and the use of biomechanical modeling to improve the quality of life for people regardless of their injury.
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Fast Facts
Common Name
Scientific Names
- Tetraplegia (pronounced te-truh-PLEE-jee-uh and formerly called quadriplegia [pronounced kwod-ruh-PLEE-jee-uh])
- Paraplegia (pronounced par-uh-PLEE-jee-uh)
Causes
Vehicular (including motorcycle) crashes are the leading cause of SCI among people younger than age 65. In contrast, falls cause most SCIs in persons age 65 and older. Other causes include violence, such as gunshot wounds, and sports-related injury.
Number of People Affected
An estimated 265,000 Americans currently live with a disability related to an SCI. Each year 12,000 new cases of SCI occur in the United States. New SCIs typically involve adults, with an average age at injury of 40.7 years. About 80% of SCI patients are men.
Common Symptoms
- Tetraplegia (paralysis of most of the body, including the arms and legs)
- Paraplegia (paralysis of the lower trunk and lower extremities)
- Secondary conditions associated with SCIs include:
- Breathing problems
- Bowel and bladder problems
- Heart problems
- Pressure sores
- Sexual function problems
- Pain
- Blood clots
- Impaired muscle coordination (or spasticity)
- Pneumonia
- Autonomic dysreflexia (or hyperreflexia), which causes a potentially lethal increase in blood pressure
- Increased likelihood of certain cancers, including bladder cancer
Common Treatments
- Surgery to relieve compression of the spinal tissue
- Emergency care rendered shortly after injury, including rapid immobilization of the spine
- Aggressive physical therapy rehabilitation programs
- Use of the steroid drug methylprednisolone (pronounced meth-il-pred-NI-soh-lone), also known as Medrol, in the first 8 hours after injury
- Electrical stimulation of nerves by neural prosthetic devices. This treatment includes the use of neural prosthetic devices that are designed to deliver functional electrical stimulation for restoration of neuromuscular function, sensory function, or autonomic function (e.g., bladder, bowel, or respiratory function).