People who sustain a spinal cord injury (SCI) are likely to experience dysfunction in one or more organ systems as a result of their injury. Many are at particularly increased risk for cardiometabolic (CMD) diseases, a subtype of cardiovascular diseases with health risks that mirror coronary artery disease or diabetes. Risk factors for CMD include...

Whiplash is one of the most common forms of spinal cord injury (SCI). Typically caused by rear-end vehicle accidents, the injury is characterized by trauma to the cervical spine (the region of the spinal cord located in the neck) following sudden acceleration then deceleration of the head. Although whiplash is usually mild, many people who...

In recent decades, medical innovations have lengthened the life expectancy of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). A substantial proportion of reduced mortality can be attributed to advances in treatment for respiratory and cardiac complications associated with SCI. Despite these important advances, the average life expectancy of a person with SCI remains shorter than that...

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can occur in any area of the spine, which is typically divided into three regions: Cervical: The neck Thoracic: The upper back Lumbar: The lower back In most cases, SCI-related motor dysfunction occurs below the region of injury; that is, a person with lumbar SCI might lose function only in the...

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating, permanent condition that often results in partial or total loss of motor function in some or all of the limbs. Importantly, most injuries that lead to SCI—such as motor vehicle accidents, falls, and gunshot wounds—are preventable. As demographics and other relevant population characteristics change over time, public...

The primary complication of spinal cord injury (SCI) is loss of motor function in some or most of the body. However, the generalized nerve damage caused by SCI can lead to a host of other post-injury complications. For instance, an injured spine can cause dysregulated nerve input in any organ below the injury level. Cervical...

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating, irreversible condition that may affect a survivor’s health and wellbeing for the rest of their life. While some individuals with SCI may go on to regain some degree of motor function and independence through rehabilitation during the recovery period, clinicians are limited in their ability to predict those...

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) affects hundreds of thousands of people worldwide and is associated with permanent, substantial disability. One such outcome is debilitating chronic pain, for which the majority of patients are prescribed opioid medications. Although opioids are an effective management strategy for chronic pain, incorrect dosage or long-term use can lead to depression,...

Falls are one of the most common causes of spinal cord injury (SCI). Fall-related SCI is typically separated into two categories: low falls (under 1m) and high falls (over 1m). SCI in general is associated with lasting injuries, long rehabilitation periods, and high medical bills, but few studies have compared outcomes between high and low...