• 30
  • April
    2012

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), nearly 12,000 people in the United States suffer a spinal cord injury (SCI) each year. A further 265,000 live with the after effects of a serious spinal cord injury.

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

An SCI is damage to a person's spinal cord that results in loss of mobility or feeling. Contrary to what many people believe, it is not necessary for the spinal cord to be severed in order for an SCI to occur. In fact, for most people with SCIs, the spinal cord is intact, but it has suffered so much trauma that mobility and feeling are affected.

Common Causes and Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries

The most common causes of SCIs are car accidents and falls from heights, such as from a ladder or from a roof.

The effects of a spinal cord injury depend upon the type and level of the injury. SCIs may be complete or incomplete. If an SCI is complete, there is neither sensation nor voluntary movement below the level of the injury on both sides of the body. If an SCI is incomplete, the patient will have some level of sensation or voluntary movement below the injury, though one side of the body may be more severely affected. Because of advancements in the treatment of spinal cord injuries in recent years, complete spinal cord injuries are becoming less common than incomplete injuries.

Contact a Workers' Compensation Attorney

If you or someone you love has suffered an SCI or other serious injury at work, contact an experienced workers' compensation attorney. A workers' compensation lawyer can assess your case and help you get the benefits you are entitled to. For more information, contact an attorney today.