Costs Associated with Living with SCI & Paralysis.
Factors
The financial implications associated with living with spinal cord injury (SCI) can depend on the severity of the injury and also the age at which the injury occurs. The figures below are taken from the SCI Facts and Figures at a Glance factsheet published by the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center in 2021.
Most Common Spinal Cord Injuries
Incomplete tetraplegia is currently the most frequent neurological category for spinal cord injury, followed by incomplete paraplegia, complete paraplegia, and complete tetraplegia.
Since 2010, the percentages of spinal cord injuries by category have been as follows.
Less than 1% of affected people experienced complete neurological recovery by the time they were discharged from the hospital.
- Incomplete Tetraplegia 47%
- Incomplete Paraplegia 19%
- Complete Paraplegia 20%
- Complete Tetraplegia 12%
Average Annual Costs
The average annual expenses (health care costs and living expenses) are directly attributable to SCI vary greatly based on education, neurological impairment, and pre-injury employment history.
These estimates do not include any indirect costs such as losses in wages, fringe benefits, and productivity (indirect costs averaged $78,633 per year in 2020 dollars).
| Severity of Injury | First Year | Each Subsequent Year |
|---|---|---|
| High Tetraplegia (C1-C4) ASIS ABC | $1.163,425 | $202,032 |
| Low Tetraplegia (C5-C8) | $840,676 | $123,938 |
| Paraplegia | $567,011 | $75,112 |
| Motor function at any level AIS D | $379,698 | $46,119 |
Estimated Lifetime Costs
| Severity of Injury | 25 Years Old | 50 Years Old |
|---|---|---|
| High Tetraplegia (C1-C4) ASIS ABC | $5,162,152 | $2,537,031 |
| Low Tetraplegia (C5-C8) ASIS ABC | $3,771,791 | $2,319,998 |
| Paraplegia ASIS ABC | $2,524,270 | $1,656,602 |
| Motor functional at any level AISD | $1,724,594 | $1,217,226 |
*The information above was provided by the Reeve Foundation.
For more statistics and information about spinal cord injury, download the free NSCISC SCI Facts and Figures at a Glance factsheet below.