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Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
SCI is typically caused by a traumatic blow to (or penetration of) the spine that fractures or dislocates vertebrae. The trauma causes the resulting bone fragments, material in the spinal discs, or ligaments to bruise or tear into spinal cord tissue, damaging it or, in some cases, severing the cord entirely and resulting in partial or complete paralysis. NICHD supports basic research related to SCI and promotes the development and application of devices, including prosthetics and wheelchairs, and the use of biomechanical modeling to improve the quality of life for people regardless of their injury.
General Information
SCI trauma causes damage to the spinal cord tissue which in some cases can result in partial or complete paralysis.
Symptoms can include extreme pain or pressure in the neck, head, or back; tingling or loss of sensation in the extremities; and partial or complete loss of control over any part of the body.
Annually there are about 12,000 new cases of SCIs in the United States, which amounts to about 40 cases per million people.
SCIs result from damage to the spinal column or to the spinal cord itself. The spinal cord then swells, cutting off vital blood supply to the nerve tissue and starving it of oxygen.
SCIs are not always immediately recognizable. People with symptoms after certain injuries should be evaluated immediately by a healthcare provider.
SCI treatment currently focuses on preventing further injury and empowering people with an SCI to return to an active and productive life.
SCI is associated with many secondary conditions that have significant impacts on medical rehabilitation management, long-term outcome, and quality of life.
Research
NICHD conducts and supports research on spinal cord injury and on many disorders associated with it.
Find a Study
NICHD conducts and supports a variety of clinical research projects related to spinal cord injury.
More Information
Find answers to other common questions about spinal cord injury, such as how it affects children and how to adjust to living with a SCI.
Links to websites of groups that study or provide information about spinal cord injury.
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