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Who is at risk?
- In a word, everyone. Your greatest risk is a road accident, but you could be permanently paralysed through something much less dramatic: falling off a ladder, getting dumped at the beach, or coming off your bike.
- 15 - 24 year olds are at greatest risk, accounting for 27% of spinal cord injuries from traumatic causes. 1
- Males are four and a half times more likely (82%) than females (18%) to sustain a spinal cord injury through traumatic causes. 2
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| What are the causes? |
- The major causes of spinal cord injuries are. 2
- Road trauma (41%)
- Falls (34%)
- Sport and leisure activities (16%)
- 18% of spinal cord injuries are work related. 2
- 54% from high falls (1m+)
- 30% from road trauma
- 16% from crushing, being hit or lifting heavy objects
- 60% of spinal cord injuries caused by sport and leisure activities are aquatic related. 2
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1) Walsh, J. Costs of spinal cord injury in Australia. Paraplegia
2) Cripps, RA. 2006. Spinal cord injury Australia, 2003-04. Injury Research and Statistics Series Number 25. Adelaide: AIHW (AHIW cat no. INJCAT 77)
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