Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted.

The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov.

Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at OPM.gov.

What conditions are associated with SCI?

SCI is associated with many secondary conditions that have significant impacts on medical rehabilitation management, long-term outcome, and quality of life.

  • Secondary conditions associated with SCIs include1,2:
    • Breathing problems
    • Bowel and bladder problems, including overactive bladder and incontinence
    • Heart problems
    • Pressure sores
    • Sexual function problems
    • Pain
    • Blood clots
    • Impaired muscle coordination (or spasticity)
    • Pneumonia
    • Autonomic dysreflexia (or hyperreflexia), which causes a potentially lethal increase in blood pressure
    • Increased likelihood of certain cancers, including bladder cancer

Citations

  1. McKinley, W. O., Tewksbury, M. A., & Godbout, C. J. (2002). Comparison of medical complications following nontraumatic and traumatic spinal cord injury. The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 25(2):88-93.
  2. Gunduz, H. & Binak, D. F. (2012). Autonomic dysreflexia: An important cardiovascular complication in spinal cord injury patients. Cardiology Journal, 19(2):215-219.
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