While we continue to learn more about spinal cord injury, much of the available research and data is still incomplete. We have, however, summarized as much information as possible to give you a better understanding of the many aspects of traumatic spinal cord injury. To go directly to a section, click on a topic below. There are approximately 7,600 - 10,000 new cases of SCI in the United States each year. Complete and Incomplete.
Complete injury means total nerve loss and incomplete means partial nerve loss.
After a spinal cord injury, all nerves above the level of injury keep working like they always have. Below the level of injury, the spinal cord nerves cannot send messages between the brain and parts of the body as they did before the injury. Those with SCI who survive the first year have significantly increased mortality rates relative to the general population. The approximate number of persons in the United States with SCI is between 183,000 and 230,000. To go directly to a section, click on a topic below.