Table 4.
Incidence and causation of spinal cord injury in provinces and states of Canada and the United States of America
| Annual incidence (per million) | Male:female ratio | Peak age (years) | Cause | Level of injury | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia (1995–2004)18 | 27.9–43.4 | 4.4:1 | Males: 15–24 (∼140/million) Females: 85+ (∼105/million) |
Traffic: 51.4% Falls: 28.5% Sports: 17.9% Violence: 1.5% |
Cervical: 49.7% Thoracic: 27.4% Lumbar/sacral: 22.9% |
| Alberta (1997–2000)19 | 52.5 | 2.5:1 | Males: 20–29 (138/million) Females: 15–19 (65.3/million) |
Traffic: 56.4% Falls: 19.1% Sports: 11.3% Struck by object/person: 5.3% Intentional: 4.4% Other: 3.3% |
Cervical: 61.5% Thoracic: 17.3% Lumbar: 15.8% Sacral/cauda equina: 1.3% Unspecified: 4.0% |
| Manitoba 1981–1985 (I) 1998–2002 (II) 2003–2007 (III)21 |
I: 17.1 II: 19.5 III: 25.6 |
I: 12:1 II: 3.3:1 III: 4.4:1 |
Overall: 16–24 | Traffic: 48.7%–52.6% Falls: 17.2%–30.8% Sports: 3.8%–16.1% Violence: 4.0%–5.3% Work: 4.3%–6.6% Farming: 0%–5.9% Suicide: 0%–1.9% Other: 0%–4.3% |
Cervical: 45.0%–51.3% Thoracic: 33.0%–34.9% Lumbar: 12.5%–21.6% Sacral: 0%–1.3% |
| Ontario (1994–1999)37 | 1994/95: 46.2 1998/99: 37.2 |
1.5–3.5:1 depending on age group | Males: 70+ (∼120/million) Females: 70+ (∼80/million) |
Falls: 43.2% Traffic: 42.8% Struck by object/person: 6.5% Homicide/suicide: 3.6% Other: 3.9% |
Not specified |
| Alabama (1973–)26 | 29.4 | 4:1 | Overall: 15–29 (66.7/million) | Traffic: 42.3% Violence: 21.2% Water sports: 7.0% Other: 29.5% |
Cervical: 47.5% Thoracic: 44.9% Lumbar: 7% Sacral: 0.6% |
| Alaska (1991–1993)23 | 83 | 5:1 | Males: 25–34 (240/million) Females: 15–24 (54/million) |
Traffic: 62.6% Falls: 21.6% Sports: 7.2% Firearms: 1.4% Other: 7.2% |
Cervical: 43.9% Other: 67.6% |
| California (1970–1971)27 | 53.4 | Not specified | Males: 20–24 Females: 25–29 |
Traffic: 56% Falls: 19% Firearms: 12% Sports: 7% Other: 6% |
Not specified |
| Mississippi (1992–1994)25 | 77 | 4:1 | Males: 20–24 (258.3/million) Females: 20–24 (50.1/million) |
Traffic: 58.2% Violence: 15.6% Falls: 12.9% Sports: 3.5% Falling object: 3.5% Other: 6.1% |
Not specified |
| Oklahoma (1988–1990)22 | 40 | 4:1 | Males: 20–24 (144/million) Females: 15–19 (50/million) |
Traffic: 50% Falls: 20% Sports: 13% Violence: 11% Falling object: 4% Other: 2% |
Not specified |
| Utah (1989–1991)24 | 43 | 3.2:1 | Males: 15–24 (30.5%) Females: 15–24 (30.2%) |
Traffic: 49.3% Falls: 21.1% Sports: 15.7% Firearms: 5.4% Other: 8.5% |
Not specified |