Prevalence of spinal cord injury: a reestimation employing life table techniques

M. J. DeVivo, P. R. Fine, H. M. Maetz and S. L. Stover

A comparison of frequently cited studies of long-term survival among spinal cord injury victims revealed widely ranging survival rates. When coupled with an estimated incidence rate of 30 cases per million persons at risk, these survival rates correspond to prevalence rates ranging from 486 to 969 per million persons, although 500 per million persons is the figure most often cited. A 30.2-year mean life expectancy for spinal cord injury victims was estimated using previously calculated spinal cord injury relative mortality ratios. The corresponding spinal cord injury prevalence rate was 906 cases per million persons. Based on the incidence rate, an estimated 8.88 beds per million population, or just under 2,000 beds, will be necessary in the United States to care adequately for all patients with newly acquired spinal cord injuries.