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The most common causes of spinal cord injuries in children primarily involve sports injuries and vehicle accidents. Both of these scenarios lead to significant trauma that can result in damage to the spinal cord.

Sports injuries often occur in younger populations that are active in certain contact sports, where collisions can lead to severe trauma to the neck and back. Vehicle accidents are particularly concerning because children may be passengers, pedestrians, or drivers who can be involved in crashes that lead to serious injury. Both of these factors represent preventable situations, highlighting the importance of safety measures such as proper use of seat belts and helmets.

In contrast, falls and abuse, while also significant factors in pediatric injuries, do not account for as high a percentage of spinal cord injuries in the same way as sports injuries and vehicle accidents. Gunshot wounds and falls can lead to injuries but are less prevalent compared to sports-related and vehicular causes in the context of spinal cord injuries. Lastly, birth trauma and congenital issues, although critical in certain medical discussions, are more related to specific medical conditions present at birth rather than common external injury causes seen in children after birth.