A demographic profile of traumatic and non-traumatic spinal injury cases: a hospital-based study from India

Abstract

Study design and subjects: Retrospective descriptive analysis of data of patients with spinal injuries admitted to a tertiary referral medical center from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2004. Objectives: To identify the demographic profile of patients with spinal injuries admitted in this hospital. Setting: Medical records department, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, Karnataka, India. Methods: A total of 207 patients with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal injuries were included in the study. The patient characteristics that were included were age groups, neurologic status, mode and neurological level of injury, management and recovery pattern. Results: Ratio of men to women who sustained spinal injuries was 3.6:1. The maximum number of patients was in the age range of 20-39 years. The different levels of spine that sustained injuries were cervical spine (36.2%), thoracic spine (34.3%) and lumbar spine (29.5%). There were 118 patients with neurological deficit. Mechanisms of injury recorded were fall from height (58.9%), fall of weight (7.2%), motor vehicle accidents (21.3%) and non-traumatic causes (12.6%). Of these 207 spinal injury patients, 74.4% were managed conservatively, whereas 25.6% patients were managed surgically. Observation: This study gives a preliminary overview of the characteristics of patients with spinal injuries in this hospital.

Follow-up study of spinal cord injured patients after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation in Nepal in 2007

“…1,11,18-20 Most (89%) had traumatic SCI, similar to 87% reported in India, 9 but different from the west, where non-traumatic SCI incidence is similar to traumatic. 18,21 In the west, motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of SCI, 8 however, in Nepal and India, falls are the most common cause (Tables 3a and b).…”

“…8 Thus an estimate of yearly incidence of traumatic SCI in Nepal is 300-5000, and prevalence 1500-25 000. 9 GPHRC is a 70-bed hospital that provides rehabilitation for patients affected by leprosy, SCI, amputation, burns, cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities. The rehabilitation team includes physicians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, orthopaedic technologists, health educators, counsellors and peer counsellors.…”

Epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury in Tianjin, China

“…15,16 Low falls were more common in those over 75 years of age (80.0% in this age group), followed by those in 61-to 75-year group (70.2%). As the ageing society coming, the number of low falls-induced TSCI would increase gradually.…”

“…The present study included all inhabitants aged 15 Definition of TSCI TSCI is defined as the occurrence of an acute, traumatic lesion of neural elements in the spinal canal (spinal cord and cauda equina) resulting in temporary or permanent sensory deficit, motor deficit or bladder/bowel dysfunction. 10 …”

Profile of spinal injuries in Lagos, Nigeria

“…1 It is one of the most devastating conditions that can be encountered by patients and their careers 2 resulting to profound and longterm disability. 3 Spinal cord injury mainly affects young people, mostly males, [3][4][5][6] causing significant morbidity with huge human and economic losses. This is because most victims are left with permanent disability and may require specialist care for the rest of their lives.…”