Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the cause and characteristics of sports-related spinal cord injury. MethodsAll 38 sports-related spinal cord injury patients admitted in China Rehabilitation Research Center were analyzed retrospectively. Results84.2% （32/38） were male, mean of age was 23.4 (5～58). Diving was the most cause to sports-related spinal cord injury (27/38). Except 2 patients with no fracture and 1 with lumbar fracture, other patients were all with the cervical fractures, in which 57.9% were burst fractures, 18.4% were fracture and dislocations. 47.2% were complete spinal cord injury, 58.2% were incomplete. As for their professions, 10.5% were athletes, 31.6% were students. ConclusionSports-related spinal cord injury can happen in athletes and others, most of them are younger, disability of different degree remains. It is important to prevent sports-related spinal cord injury.

Key words: sports-related spinal cord injury, cause, characteristics