From 1969-79, 865 men & 369 women with spinal cord lesions were treated at Henry Gabrielle Hospital in France. 77.6% of trauma cases were men & 22.4% women. On average, females were 2 yrs older & more were married. Car accidents & suicidal falls accounted for many cases of female paraplegia; in men, direct blows from sport injuries, motorcycle & industrial falls were common. Clinically, there were less heterotopic ossifications & fewer bladder stones in women. Their hospital stays were shorter.