Frequently Asked Questions

    • Approx # of SCI in USA
      Q:
    • A:
      It is estimated that the annual incidence of spinal cord injury (SCI),
      not including those who die at the scene of the accident, is
      approximately 40 cases per million population in the U. S. or
      approximately 11,000 new cases each year. Since there have not been
      any overall incidence studies of SCI in the U.S. since the 1970's it
      is not known if incidence has changed in recent years.
    • Approx % of unemployed
      Q:
    • A:
      More than half (64.2%) of those persons with SCI admitted to a Model
      System reported being employed at the time of their injury. The
      post-injury employment picture is better among persons with paraplegia
      than among their tetraplegic counterparts. By post-injury year 10,
      32.4% of persons with paraplegia are employed, while 24.2% of those
      with tetraplegia are employed during the same year.
    • Approx % on SSI/Disability
      Q:
    • A:
      Unknown
    • Approx % in Nursing homes
      Q:
    • A:
      Today 88.1% of all persons with SCI who are discharged alive from the
      system are sent to a private, noninstitutional residence (in most
      cases their homes before injury.) Only 5.4% are discharged to nursing
      homes. The remaining are discharged to hospitals, group living
      situations or other destinations.
    • Approx # new SCI annually
      Q:
    • A:
      See above
    • Approx # of SCI from gang, drug and gunshot
      Q:
    • A:
      Acts of violence caused 13.3% of spinal cord injuries prior to 1980,
      and peaked between 1990 and 1999 at 24.8% before declining to only
      13.7% since 2000.

SCI Resources