Highlight
This nationwide analysis of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) mortality highlights four key insights: (1) Overall age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) remained largely stable from 1999 to 2024 with nonlinear fluctuations; (2) Men, older adults (65+ years), and non-Hispanic Black individuals experienced consistently higher mortality; (3) The COVID-19 pandemic period correlated with marked mortality rate increases, particularly among women, older adults, non-Hispanic Black persons, and residents of the Northeast; (4) These disparities and temporal changes underscore critical gaps in prevention and trauma care equity nationwide.
