CHSU Discovery

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with sensory, motor, and

autonomic dysfunction leading to significant functional

impairment and long-term morbidity. While traumatic SCI is more

commonly emphasized, non-traumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI)

accounts for approximately 30–50% of spinal cord injury cases in

developed countries. NTSCI differs from traumatic SCI in several

important ways, including etiology, patient demographics, and

clinical presentation. It commonly arises from degenerative spinal

conditions, spinal stenosis, tumors, infection, or vascular

pathology, whereas traumatic SCI is typically associated with

high-energy mechanisms such as motor vehicle collisions or falls.1,

5, 6 Patients with NTSCI are often older, have a higher burden of

medical comorbidities, and may present with a more gradual onset

of neurological symptoms, although they can still demonstrate

significant functional improvement with rehabilitation.