STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of 41 patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) after paragliding accidents. OBJECTIVE: To determine the lesioned pattern and prognostic radiologic factors for rehabilitation potential. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Paragliding accidents with SCI present a new injury pattern, dealt with in the current literature from a purely orthopedic, sports medicine, or insurance point of view. Few combinations of orthopedic and neurologic data are available. METHODS: Over a 10-year period, the case records of 41 patients with SCI caused by paragliding accidents were analyzed with regard to vertebral and other skeletal fractures, neurologic recovery (American Spine Injury Association score), and professional reintegration. RESULTS: Vertebral fractures peaked in the thoracolumbar region, with L1 most frequently (30%) affected. The levels of vertebral lesion and neurologic deficit differed in 32% of patients. Combination with lower-limb fractures was characteristic for paragliding SCI (P < 0.001); 93% of patients with initial bony occlusion of the spinal canal of <70% left the clinic ambulatory. CONCLUSION: Paragliding accidents with SCI show a characteristic injury pattern associated with a high recovery potential if the initial bony spinal canal occlusion is <70%. Half the patients will reintegrate in their former profession and place of employment.
STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of 41 patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) after paragliding accidents. OBJECTIVE: To determine the lesioned pattern and prognostic radiologic factors for rehabilitation potential. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Paragliding accidents with SCI present a new injury pattern, dealt with in the current literature from a purely orthopedic, sports medicine, or insurance point of view. Few combinations of orthopedic and neurologic data are available. METHODS: Over a 10-year period, the case records of 41 patients with SCI caused by paragliding accidents were analyzed with regard to vertebral and other skeletal fractures, neurologic recovery (American Spine Injury Association score), and professional reintegration. RESULTS:Vertebral fractures peaked in the thoracolumbar region, with L1 most frequently (30%) affected. The levels of vertebral lesion and neurologic deficit differed in 32% of patients. Combination with lower-limb fractures was characteristic for paragliding SCI (P < 0.001); 93% of patients with initial bony occlusion of the spinal canal of <70% left the clinic ambulatory. CONCLUSION: Paragliding accidents with SCI show a characteristic injury pattern associated with a high recovery potential if the initial bony spinal canal occlusion is <70%. Half the patients will reintegrate in their former profession and place of employment.
Authors: Henrik C Bäcker; J Turner Vosseller; Lorin Benneker; Markus Noger; Fabian Krause; Sven Hoppe; Moritz C Deml Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2019-03-18 Impact factor: 3.134
Authors: Henrik Constantin Bäcker; J Turner Vosseller; Aristomenis K Exadaktylos; Carsten Perka; Lorin Michael Benneker; Fabian Götz Krause; Moritz Caspar Deml Journal: World J Orthop Date: 2020-02-18