By Emily Miller
As many as 500,000 people suffer a spinal cord injury each year, with road traffic crashes, falls and violence as the three leading causes. People with spinal cord injury are two to five times likely to die prematurely. Survival rates are significantly lower in low to middle income countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) – responsible for global health matters within the United Nations – provides essential evidence on the cases, prevention, care and lived experience of people with spinal cord injuries available in the new “International Perspectives on Spinal Cord Injury” report.
Males are most at risk between the ages of 20 to 29 and 70 years and older, while females are most at risk between the ages of 15 to 19 years old and 60 years and older. The report states that males are twice as likely to suffer from such condition.
Most people with spinal cord injury experience chronic pain, and an estimated 20 to 40 percent show clinically significant signs of depression. Secondary conditions – such as urinary tract infections, pressure ulcers and respiratory complications – can develop as well.
Many of the consequences associated with spinal cord injury do no result from the conditions itself, but from inadequate medical care and rehabilitation services as well as physical, social and policy barriers.
“Spinal cord injury is a medically complex and life-disrupting condition,” notes Dr. Etienne Krug Director of the Department of Violence and Injury Prevention and Disability, WHO. “However, spinal cord injury is preventable, survivable, and need not preclude good health and social inclusion.”
According to the WHO, essential measure for improving the survival, health and participation of people with spinal cord injury include:
· Timely, adequate medical care that is appropriate to the level and severity of the injury
· Immobilization of the spine until proper medical attention has been met
· Access to ongoing health care to help heal the spinal as well as reduce risk of secondary conditions
· Depending on the severity, access to skilled rehabilitation for the appropriate amount of time
· Access to appropriate assistive devices that enable people to perform everyday tasks without adding additional stress to the spine
· Adequate health insurance to help cover medical costs and rehabilitation services
Like any similar medical conditions, the WHO stresses the importance of adequate health insurance, proper education about spinal cord injuries and continued education on the matter. Make sure your health insurance policy covers spinal cord related injuries because accidents can happen anytime.
