Falls overtake motor vehicles as leading cause of injury after age. 45 Acts of violence and sports cause less injuries as age increases. Acts of violence have overtaken falls as the second most common source of spinal cord injury in the last 4 years. People who return to work after the first year post-injury either worked for different employers or were students who found work. Complete injuries result in total loss of sensation and function below the injury level.
Incomplete injuries result in partial loss.
Each of the above categories can occur in paraplegia and quadriplegia. Most people with neurologically complete lesions above C-3 die before receiving medical treatment. Those who survive are usually dependent on mechanical respirators to breathe. The remainder go to CARF facilities or to general hospitals in their local community. Nursing home admission is more common among elderly persons.