As with any severe trauma, you face the risk of succumbing to your injuries if you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury. Injuries may result in an extended vegetative state. A spinal cord injury may affect involuntary functions, such as breathing, pumping blood, and even digesting food, and thus lead to death. Even the use of ventilators, feeding tubes, and long-term care may result in a significantly diminished length or quality of life.