Traumatic spinal cord injuries
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.
Some non-traumatic spinal cord injuries are:
- Degeneration of bone (vertebrae)
- Bone spurs
- Infections or tumors in the spine
- Diseases of the spinal cord such as: multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Guillain-Barré syndrome, and transverse myelitis
Last reviewed:
March 2018