Estimated United States incidence of disabling and fatal central nervous system traumas: A need to re-evaluate priorities?

An analysis of data shows that although the incidence of brain injury from all causes is thirty-four times that of spinal cord injury, many of the brain injuries carry little or no long-term consequence. Since good recovery occurs in fewer than 1% of those with spinal cord injury, the incidence of permanent disability from spinal cord injury equals 25% of the incidence of total disability after brain injury. These data should be carefully considered in setting priorities for occupant protection and crash injury prevention.