Life after SCI

How many people in Australia have SCI?

It is estimated that there are 9,000 people living with SCI in Australia.

During 2005–6 374 cases of SCI were registered with 90 of these resulting from non-traumatic causes where SCI was secondary to medical conditions such as ischaemia (10%), cancer (16%), spinal abscesses (6%) and spinal canal stenosis (6%). Other causes of SCI were related to disc disease, myelopathy, pain, and medical interventions.

Two hundred and fifty-seven (257) of the total registered cases were persisting (surviving longer than 90 days) SCI cases resulting from traumatic causes, with 82% involving males and 18% females.

Based on these 257 cases, the most common neurological category was incomplete tetraplegia (93 cases, 36%), followed by incomplete paraplegia (73 cases, 28%), complete paraplegia (49 cases, 19%) and complete tetraplegia (42 cases, 16%).

The total number of registered cases incurring SCI from traumatic causes was 284 of which 27 either did not survive (6 cases), were non-Australian residents (10 cases) or survived with no neurological deficit (11 cases). For those the following causes were:

  • 69 (24%) motor vehicle occupants involved in traffic and non-traffic land transport related incidents;
  • 63 (22%) unprotected road users (motor cyclists, pedal cyclists or pedestrians) involved in traffic and non-traffic land transport related incidents;
  • 35 (12%) low falls;
  • 60 (21%) high falls (from a height of one metre or more);
  • 22 (8%) being hit or struck by an object;
  • 25 (9%) water-related; and
  • 10 (4%) from other causes.

The type of activity being undertaken at the time of injury included working for income (43 cases), other types of work (19), sports (35), leisure (26), personal activity (36) and other or unspecified activity (125).

Citation: Cripps RA 2007. Spinal cord injury, Australia, 2005–06. Injury Research and Statistics Series Number 36. Adelaide: AIHW (AIHW cat. no. INJCAT 102)

Click here for a full copy of the document, which focuses on the incidence of SCI from traumatic causes.

In New South Wales

The NSW State Spinal Cord Injury Service website has been updated with SCI statistics for 2006.

Of 105 registered SCI cases in 2006 (10 fewer than in 2005), 85 (81%) were from traumatic causes and 20 (19%) from non-traumatic causes with 87 (83%) being males and 18 (17%) females.

Fifty-eight cases (55%) resulted in tetraplegia and 47 (45%) paraplegia. Thirty-seven cases (35%) were complete injuries and 68 (65%) incomplete. The causes of traumatic injury are listed as falls (25 cases, 24%), sport (20 cases, 19%), transport (28 cases, 27%) and other (12 cases, 11%).

Data is also included for 204 readmissions with the four most common principal diagnoses listed as genitourinary (63 cases, 28%), integumentary/skin related (41 cases, 18%), gastrointestinal (24 cases, 11%) and pulmonary (20 cases, 9%).

Click here for the full report.

Back to index

What does a person with SCI need to live in the community?

Each person with a disability is different. Each will have different needs in levels of care and equipment.

"Care" comes in various forms: personal, domestic, household, respite, nursing, community access.

  • Personal care: showering, toileting, transfering, feeding.
  • Domestic services: meal preparation, shopping, cleaning, ironing.
  • Household support: gardening, home cleaning, home maintenace.
  • Community access: transport, companion.
  • Nursing: medication.
  • Respite: for time spent away from home.
  • Other: childcare and workplace or education support.

People with paraplegia will need little or no personal care, but will need assistance with domestic duties.

People with high cervical injury can require 24 hour care.

Equipment needs include manual or power wheelchair with battery charger, portable ramps, hoist, pressure relief cushion, shower chair, catheter, adjustable bed, air conditioning, ventilator, physiotherapy, home automation (possible voice controlled), computer, modified vehicle.

The NSW Motor Accidents Authority has published its assessment of the future care and equipment needs of people with SCI—Guidelines for levels of attendant care for people with spinal cord injury .

Back to index

Does everyone with SCI use a wheelchair?

People with high injuries usually need a power wheelchair for independent mobility. People with low C SCIs and below may be able to use manual wheelchairs.

Manual chairs are more convenient as they cost and weigh less and are easy to fold for transport. However the independence provided by a power chair to the person who needs it outweighs any limitations.

Some people walk using crutches and leg braces. This does not mean they will never use a wheelchair, perhaps preferring them only for longer distances.

Back to index