Age and sex statistics

The age and sex distribution of cases of persisting spinal cord injury from traumatic causes are similar from 2003-04 to 2004-05. 

The highest proportion in both years occurred at the 15-24 year age group, accounting for 25% of the total amount of spinal cord injury in 2004-05 (Cripps, 2006a, p8) and 27% in 2003-04 (Cripps, 2006b, p7). 

Another interesting point to note is the high prevalence of males with spinal cord injuries.  They represent 82% of the cases in 2004-05 (Cripps, 2006a, p8).  This is consistent with the previous year’s study where they again represented 82% of the new cases of spinal cord injury (Cripps, 2006b, p8).  A major difference in the two year’s results were that there were more males in every categories as compared with females in 2003-04, but in 2004-05, this was again true except for the 65 years and above age group, where more females suffered from an spinal cord injury (Cripps, 2006b, p8; Cripps, 2006a, p8). 

References for statistics
Cripps, R, 2006a, “Spinal cord injury, Australia 2003-04”, Australian Institute of Health & Welfare, Canberra, AIHW Cat.no. INJAT77.
Cripps, R, 2006b, “Spinal cord injury, Australia 2004-05”, Australian Institute of Health & Welfare, Canberra, AIHW Cat.no. INJAT77.
O’Connor, P, 2005, “Survival after Spinal Cord Injury in Australia”, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol 86, January 2005.