HOW OFTEN ARE SPINAL INJURY PATIENTS READMITTED?

Spinal cord injuries can be incredibly devastating. Depending on the level of injury, the victim may experience minor or temporary loss of motor function all the way up to complete paraplegia. In the vast majority of cases, these injuries are caused either by a fall or some type of car crash, but even a seemingly minor incident can result in serious injury.

One of the difficulties with spinal cord injuries is that the victims are likely to have to deal with the effects of the injury long after the accident and sometimes, even for the rest of their lives. Those who have suffered these types of injuries may need expensive medical equipment to help them be as independent as possible, regular follow-up visits with their doctors and in many cases, re-hospitalization.

According to the Spinal Cord Injury Model System's Facts and Figures sheet, approximately 30 percent of people who have been diagnosed with a spinal cord injury end up in the hospital again within one year of the original injury. In some cases, this is because of complications with the injury, but diseases related to the genitourinary system and those affecting the skin are also common issues.

While the leading cause of spinal cord injuries is motor vehicle accidents, accounting for 38 percent of injuries, falls are a close second, coming in at 30 percent. Whether your injury was caused by a drunk driver in a car accident or a fall due to inadequate property maintenance, you may have a case for the civil courts if another party was at fault or negligent.

Source: Spinal Cord Injury Model System, "Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Facts and Figures at a Glance," accessed April. 09, 2015