颈椎损伤主要由车祸伤、摔伤、运动损伤(例如橄榄球、美式足球和蹦床)和跳水等原因造成。美国国家公路交通安全管理局的一项调查报告显示每年警方报告的车祸伤有超过300,0000。[4]US Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The economic impact of motor vehicle crashes 2000. http://www.nhtsa.gov/ (last accessed 9 January 2017).http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/Communication%20&%20Consumer%20Information/Articles/Associated%20Files/EconomicImpact2000.pdf上述约有一半以上有颈部损伤。[5]Freeman MD, Croft AC, Rossignol AM, et al. A review and methodologic critique of the literature refuting whiplash syndrome. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1999;24:86-96.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9921598?tool=bestpractice.com车祸伤相关的颈部损伤事故的发生率在欧洲国家差异很大,英国报道的发生率最高,而法国和芬兰则最低。[6]Chappuis G, Soltermann B. Number and cost of claims linked to minor cervical trauma in Europe: results from the comparative study by CEA, AREDOC and CEREDOC. Eur Spine J. 2008;17:1350-1357.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/18704519/?tool=pubmedhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18704519?tool=bestpractice.com除了交通事故造成的严重损伤以外,有些损伤其实仅对颈部损伤产生一定影响,而主要受患者的活动情况而决定。大多数研究表明,男性发病率高于女性,并且发病率峰值的年龄为 30 岁以下。交通事故通常是造成脊髓损伤的最常见原因,其次是老年人群发生跌倒。[7]Singh A, Tetreault L, Kalsi-Ryan S, et al. Global prevalence and incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury. Clin Epidemiol. 2014;6:309-331.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4179833/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25278785?tool=bestpractice.com