Recent Trends in Causes of Spinal Cord Injury

This data sheet looks at the causes of spinal cord injury between 2010 and 2020.  Below are some of the key takeaways from the recent trends in spinal cord injuries:

• Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries and account for about 38% of the total number of cases.
• Falls rank second in causes of spinal cord injury, accounting for about 31% of the total number of cases.
• Acts of violence are the third leading cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for about 14% of the total.  Of these acts of violence, gunshot wounds are by far the most common.
• Sports & recreational activities account for just over 8% of spinal cord injuries, ranking fourth in causes of spinal cord injury; of these, diving incidents are the most common.

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About the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center and Database 

The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) has been in existence since 1973 and is located at the University of Alabama Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. NSCISC supports and directs the collection, management and analysis of the National SCI Database, which is the world’s largest and longest Spinal Cord Injury research database.