Approximately 12,000 new spinal cord injuries occur each year.  Generally, paraplegia refers to the loss of use of the lower extremities and results from an injury to the lower portion of the spinal cord.  Quadriplegia is more severe as it involves the loss of use of the legs and arms as well as many bodily functions.  High quadriplegics might also need the use of a respirator to breath.  The most famous quadriplegic was Christopher Reeve who in 1995 fell from his horse and was left paralyzed from the neck down.  A high quadriplegic, he required the use of a ventilator to assist him breathing.  

Statistically, the average age of a spinal cord injury patient is 39.5 years old
Approximately 79% of those injured are male and 56% of the injuries occur between the age of 16 and 30.

Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Motor vehicle accounts are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for 42% of all spinal cord injuries, followed by falls which account for 27.1% of all incidents.  The other leading causes are violence (mainly gunshot wounds) and sporting activities.

Costs of Spinal Cord Injuries

For those who are paraplegic, the average first year medical expenses are $283,388 with each subsequent year costing an average of $28,837.  For a 25 year old, he or she is looking at over $1,000,000 in medical expenses over their lifetime.

For a quadriplegic, the medical costs are much more.  For those who suffer from high quadriplegia (C1-C4), the first year medical expenses average $775,567 and each subsequent year is $138,923 for a total lifetime medical expenses of $3,000,000 for a 25 year old.  For a low quadriplegic (C5-C8), the first year medical expenses average $500,000 with over $50,000 each subsequent year for a lifetime average of $1,729,754 in medical expenses.  These are medical expenses alone and don't include lost wages.

The employment future of spinal cord injury victims is not great.  By the 10th year following the injury, 32.4% of paraplegics are employed while only 24.2% of those with quadriplegia are employed.  

Additionally, the life expectancy of those suffering from spinal cord injuries is reduced, depending on how high the injury is in spine.  

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you need an attorney experienced in representing spinal cord injury victims as these injuries present a whole host of unique issues.  Having represented victims suffering from both quadriplegia and paraplegia, Robert Kisselburgh has the experience needed to successfully prosecute a case involving spinal cord injuries.  Call the Kisselburgh Law Firm at 601-936-4040 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation to discuss your specific case.

SPINAL CORD INJURY RESOURCES

American Spinal Injury Association:  a professional association of healthcare professionals who treat individuals suffering spinal cord injuries.

Center for Paralysis Research:  Based at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, some amazing research is being conducted into the treatment of spinal cord injuries.

Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation:  This website promotes the health and well-being of people living with a spinal cord injury.  A great resource.

Foundation for Spinal Cord Injury Prevention, Care & Cure:  This foundation is dedicated to the prevention, care, and cure of spinal cord injuries through public awareness, education and funding research.

National Spinal Cord Injury Association:  The nation's oldest and largest civilian organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for those living with spinal cord injuries and their families.

National SpinalCord Injury Information Network:    Based out of the University of Alabama-Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, this federally funded program operates the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center which supports, direct, collects, manages, and analyzes the world's largest spinal cord injury database.

Paralyzed Veterans of America:  This great resource provides a lot of free literature which can be downloaded.  A great resource for spinal cord injury victims and their families.

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center:  Located at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

Spinal Cord Injury Information Pages:  Described as a one-stop shop for information on spinal cord injuries.