Damaged vertebrae, ligaments, or disks of the spinal column or of the spinal cord itself result in spinal cord injuries. Sudden, traumatic blows to the spine, or traumatic spinal cord injuries, can cause fractures, dislocations, crushes, or compressions to one or more vertebrae. A gunshot wound or knife wound could also be a traumatic spinal cord injury because they can cause the spinal cord to be penetrated and cut. Over time these traumatic spinal cord injuries could worsen due to bleeding, swelling, inflammation, and fluid accumulation around the spinal cord.
Cancer, arthritis, inflammation, infections, or disk degeneration could all be the cause of non-traumatic spinal cord injuries. Just because these causes are non-traumatic doesn’t mean these types of spinal cord injuries are not the fault of another. Medical malpractice could cause non-traumatic spinal cord injuries.