The causes of SCIs can be put into two groups: traumatic and non-traumatic. The most common cause of traumatic injury in the United States is motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). MVAs cause 44 out of 100 of all SCIs.
Some traumatic spinal cord injuries are:
Ischemia
Decreased blood flow to the spinal cord
Contusion
Bruising of the spinal cord
Fractures
Broken bones (vertebrae)
Dislocation
Displaced or misaligned vertebrae
Non-traumatic spinal cord injuries
Non-traumatic injuries are caused by diseases that affect the bones, nerves, or spinal cord.