C Joseph1, A Delcarme2, I Vlok3,4, K Wahman5,6, J Phillips2, L Nilsson Wikmar1. 1. Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 2. Department of Physiotherapy, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa. 3. Department of Neurosurgery, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. 4. Division of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. 5. Section Neurorehabilitation, Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 6. Rehab Station Stockholm/Spinalis R&D Unit, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, regional population-based study. OBJECTIVES: To provide the incidence, aetiology and injury characteristics of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in the City of Cape Town, South Africa. SETTING: All government-funded hospitals within the City of Cape Town, South Africa. METHODS: All survivors of acute TSCI, given that they met the inclusion criteria, were prospectively included for a 1-year period. The International Spinal Cord injury Core Data Set was used and systematically completed by specialist doctors. Further, international standards for neurological classification were adhered to. RESULTS: In total, 147 cases of acute TSCI were identified and 145 were included in the study. The male to female ratio was 5.9:1 and the mean age was 33.5 years, ranging from 18 to 93. The crude incidence rate was 75.6 per million (95% CI: 64.3-88.8) with assault as the main cause of injury, accounting for 59.3% of the cases, followed by motor vehicle accidents (26.3%) and falls (11.7%). Most injuries occurred in the cervical spine (53.1%), and American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A severity was most common (39.3%) in the cohort. CONCLUSION: The incidence rate of TSCI in a region of South Africa was high when compared to previously postulated figures for the country. There is a need for primary preventative strategies to target younger men that are exposed to violent activities. A national study is required to learn whether these findings are only locally applicable or generalisable.
STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, regional population-based study. OBJECTIVES: To provide the incidence, aetiology and injury characteristics of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in the City of Cape Town, South Africa. SETTING: All government-funded hospitals within the City of Cape Town, South Africa. METHODS: All survivors of acute TSCI, given that they met the inclusion criteria, were prospectively included for a 1-year period. The International Spinal Cord injury Core Data Set was used and systematically completed by specialist doctors. Further, international standards for neurological classification were adhered to. RESULTS: In total, 147 cases of acute TSCI were identified and 145 were included in the study. The male to female ratio was 5.9:1 and the mean age was 33.5 years, ranging from 18 to 93. The crude incidence rate was 75.6 per million (95% CI: 64.3-88.8) with assault as the main cause of injury, accounting for 59.3% of the cases, followed by motor vehicle accidents (26.3%) and falls (11.7%). Most injuries occurred in the cervical spine (53.1%), and American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A severity was most common (39.3%) in the cohort. CONCLUSION: The incidence rate of TSCI in a region of South Africa was high when compared to previously postulated figures for the country. There is a need for primary preventative strategies to target younger men that are exposed to violent activities. A national study is required to learn whether these findings are only locally applicable or generalisable.
Authors: William P Waring; Fin Biering-Sorensen; Stephen Burns; William Donovan; Daniel Graves; Amitabh Jha; Linda Jones; Steven Kirshblum; Ralph Marino; M J Mulcahey; Ronald Reeves; William M Scelza; Mary Schmidt-Read; Adam Stein Journal: J Spinal Cord Med Date: 2010 Impact factor: 1.985
Authors: F Biering-Sørensen; M J DeVivo; S Charlifue; Y Chen; P W New; V Noonan; M W M Post; L Vogel Journal: Spinal Cord Date: 2017-05-30 Impact factor: 2.772