A spinal cord injury happens from damage to the vertebrae, ligaments, or disks of the spine.
SCI can be caused by a traumatic force to the spinal cord resulting in fracture, dislocation, or compression of vertebrae in the spine. Any incident penetrating and injuring the spine, such as a car accident, blunt force, or a gunshot wound, can cause spinal cord injury.
Once this occurs, bleeding and inflammation can cause more damage for days or months after the initial injury.
Other causes of SCI are cancer, infection, degenerative disc disease, and arthritis.