What is a spinal cord injury and how do they happen?
Usually injuries to the spinal cord, as opposed to a spinal fracture, do not result in a cut through the spinal cord but instead they crush the thin extension of nerve cells that are surrounded by the vertebrae. Spinal cord injuries are most commonly caused by motor vehicle accidents. The next most frequent causes are violence, mostly related to firearms. Work related injuries (predominately from construction work) are most frequent in adults while sports related injuries occur more commonly in children and teenagers.
