What are common causes of spinal cord injuries?

There are many causes of spinal cord injuries, including trauma from war injuries caused by falls, gunshots, blasts, explosions and crashes. Diving accidents commonly result in spinal cord injuries, especially in young adults. Tumors can cause spinal cord injuries, as can congenital disorders such as spina bifida. Other causes of spinal cord injuries include multiple sclerosis, a demyelinative disease, and vascular malformations, including aneurysms. Sometimes a stroke (brain attack) results in a spinal cord injury, while rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) can increase the chance of injury when there is trauma to the spine.  While some spinal cord injuries lead to recovery, other injuries are much more serious and result in permanent paralysis.