As America’s population ages, falls by senior citizens are overtaking motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries, a new study shows.
Conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the study demonstrates that the elderly are more susceptible than younger people to falls that cause debilitating spinal cord injuries. Therefore, researchers believe more focus should be placed on finding ways to keep the elderly from falling and hurting their spines.
Approximately 12,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries are reported in the United States each year, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC). They happen when damage occurs to the vertebrae, ligaments, and disks of the spinal column or to the spinal cord and can occur during abrupt, unexpected jolts to the spine. An injury may break, squeeze or dislocate one or more vertebrae.
Motor vehicle accidents that whipped people’s necks abruptly were long the leading cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries. However, the new study puts falls in the No. 1 position and suggests that new solutions are needed to prevent falls and spinal injuries.
Details on the Study
In its study, Johns Hopkins researchers examined 43,137 adults nationwide who were treated in emergency rooms for spinal cord injuries from 2007 to 2009. Through this three-year analysis, falls (41.5 percent) surpassed car crashes (35.5 percent) as the leading cause of spinal injuries. In addition, those types of injuries for seniors increased from 23.6 percent to 30 percent during the study period.
Based on the findings, the researchers believe that when comparing the severity of damage with other illnesses in the sample group, seniors who live with spinal cord injuries are four times more likely to die in the emergency room from this condition than younger adults. Moreover, if these same patients survive and are admitted into the hospital, they are six times more likely to die during their stay.
Health-care Costs for Spinal Cord Injuries
The study’s investigators couldn’t determine the exact reason falls are exceeding automobile collisions as the top cause of spinal cord injuries. But they believe the increase could reflect the reality of an aging but active population and motor vehicle technology that enables people to survive severe accidents.
In addition to analyzing the risk factors and demographics of spinal cord injuries across the country, the researchers looked at their impact on the health-care system and concluded that this type of injury is a costly problem. From 2007 to 2009, emergency room bills for traumatic spinal cord injuries jumped to $1.6 billion, a 20 percent increase that far outpaced inflation.
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates that the lifetime costs of someone who lives with a spinal cord injury can range from $1 million to $5 million, depending on the extent of the injury and the person’s age. With those costs in mind, researchers stress a need to find ways to protect senior citizens from succumbing to falls.
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
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