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Did you know?
- A spinal cord injury can happen to anyone, at any time.
- Each year, between 20 to 30 New Brunswickers incur a spinal cord injury.
- An estimated 36,000 Canadians live with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) and an estimated 1,050 new injuries occur each year.
- The most common cause of SCI in Canada is motor vehicles collisions. The second highest cause of injury is falls, including industrial accidents. Other causes include medical conditions, diving and sports injuries.
- Approximately 80% of spinal cord injuries occur to people under the age of 30.
- Per capita, New Brunswick has the second highest number of persons with disabilities in Canada.
- Over 82,300 New Brunswickers over the age of 15 have a disability related to mobility - 11% of the population!
- Over 34,500 New Brunswickers over the age of 65 have a disability related to mobility.
Definitions:
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
The spinal cord is the hub of the central nervous system and it is located inside the backbone and it stretches from what is commonly known as the tailbone to the base of the brain.
Damage to this cord causes paralysis in the limbs and torso. The most common symptom is the loss of sensation below the point of injury. In most cases, it results in the loss of control function of the bowels and bladder. The higher the injury to the cord in the direction of the brain the more function that is lost.
Damage to the cord can result from a physical injury or as a result of other medical conditions.
Paraplegia
Paraplegia is a spinal cord injury that results in the paralysis of the lower limbs and part or all of the trunk or torso.
Quadriplegia
Quadriplegia is a spinal cord injury that affects both the lower and upper limbs and part or all of the trunk or torso.