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Resources by Disability
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Definition: A Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is a lesion of the spinal cord, resulting in a loss of mobility or sensation. SCIs account for approximately 7,800 injuries in the United States each year.
Symptoms: There are two types of injury associated with SCI, complete and incomplete injury. A complete injury refers to a severed spinal cord, resulting in complete paralysis below the lesion. Common forms of paralysis include paraplegia (below the waist), quadriplegia (below the shoulders), and pentaplegia (full body). People with pentaplegia may experience difficulty eating and breathing, due to lack of muscle control. An incomplete injury is caused by damage to only part of the spinal cord, and usually results in limited mobility or partial sensation below the lesion.
Cause: Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of SCI (44%), followed by acts of violence (24%), falls (22%), sports injuries (8%), and other (2%). SCIs are significantly more common among males, and typically occur between the ages of 16 and 30.
Treatment: Treatment options include rehabilitation and physiotherapy.
Myth: It is often assumed that once an individual receives an SCI, he or she will no longer be able to work or be financially independent. In truth, many SCI patients are able to adjust to the changes in their lives, and find employment with proper rehabilitation and job training. On average, about 34.4% of paraplegics and 24.3% of quadriplegics are employed 8 years after sustaining their injury.
Notable People with SCI:
- Christopher Reeve, an American actor best known for his role as Superman.
Support Groups:
Delaware Valley Spinal Cord Injury Association
2610 Belmont Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19131
Tel: (215) 477-4946
United Spinal Association
75-20 Astoria Boulevard
Jackson Heights, NY 11370
Tel: (800) 404-2898
Fax: (718) 803-0414
Email: membership@unitedspiral.org
Website: www.unitedspinal.org
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