We’re sending this correspondence in honor of the U.S. Senate’s passing of the Rubio, Baldwin Resolution for National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month in September 2020.
The prevelance of spinal cord injuries (SCI) in the United States remains high, with approximately 291,000 individuals living with SCI, and another 17,730 new cases identified annually according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC).
With vehicle accidents cited as the leading cause of SCI, any age group can be susceptible to its effects. One notable fact reported by the NSCISC is that the average age of injury has increased from 29 years in the 1970s to the current 43 years . . . with males accounting for approximately 78% of new SCI cases.
Falls come in as a close second, predominately affecting the aging population. However, sports and recreational accidents and acts of violence, most notably gunshot wounds, can have catastrophic consequences on the under-30 generation. In fact, “the highest per capita rate of injury occurs between ages 16 and 30.”
That’s a life sentence for the young considering “39.5% of SCI individuals are paraplegic and 59.9% are quadraplegic.” At the very least, it’s a life-changing event that results in costly and painful procedures and therapies.
Bringing awareness of the devastating effects that SCI and paralysis has on the individuals and their families is the first step in increasing education and the investment in research.
The dedicated professionals at Central New York Brain and Spine Neurosurgery continue our commitment to improving our patients’ health and well-being.
The team continues to incorporate the most advanced laser technologies and MRI center to its brain and spine practice and look forward to future research. We are excited about the heightened awareness of SCI and paralysis. Its potential support can make significant contributions to finding improved treatments as well as a cure for such injuries.
