Lyudmilla Mirzaeva1, Nils Erik Gilhus2,3, Sergey Lobzin1, Tiina Rekand4,5. 1. Department of Neurology, North-Western State Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Russia. 2. Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. 3. Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. 4. Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. tiina.rekand@helse-bergen.no. 5. Institute for Clinical Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. tiina.rekand@helse-bergen.no.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective population-based cohort study. OBJECTIVES: To characterise the epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) among the inhabitants of Saint Petersburg, Russia. SETTING: All hospitals in Saint Petersburg. METHODS: Charts for all individuals admitted to city hospitals from 1st January 1 2012 to 31st December 2016 with acute TSCI were reviewed. Incidence rates were calculated for the whole period and for each year separately. Gender-specific and age-specific incidence rates were calculated, and epidemiological characteristics and possible risk factors were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 361 people were identified. The average annual incidence rate was 17.6 per million, varying from 21.2 (2013) to 13.6 (2016), and 70.9% were men. Mean age at injury was 42.1 years. Injuries from falls represented 49.8% of cases, and motor vehicle accidents 18.9%. The male:female ratio in the low-falls group was 1.2:1, and among the elderly patients, it was 0.5:1. Lesions at the cervical level were involved in 49.3%, thoracic in 24.7%, and lumbar/sacral in 23.5%. TSCI was complete in 16.9%. Concomitant injuries occurred in 47.2% of cases, and traumatic brain injuries in 37.7%. CONCLUSION: TSCI incidence decreased during the observation period and was 2.4 times more common among men than women. In half of the cases, injuries involved the cervical level, and a fall was the most frequent injury cause. Elderly women more often had falls from a low height than men. Multiple injuries-most frequently traumatic brain injuries-were common.
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective population-based cohort study. OBJECTIVES: To characterise the epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) among the inhabitants of Saint Petersburg, Russia. SETTING: All hospitals in Saint Petersburg. METHODS: Charts for all individuals admitted to city hospitals from 1st January 1 2012 to 31st December 2016 with acute TSCI were reviewed. Incidence rates were calculated for the whole period and for each year separately. Gender-specific and age-specific incidence rates were calculated, and epidemiological characteristics and possible risk factors were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 361 people were identified. The average annual incidence rate was 17.6 per million, varying from 21.2 (2013) to 13.6 (2016), and 70.9% were men. Mean age at injury was 42.1 years. Injuries from falls represented 49.8% of cases, and motor vehicle accidents 18.9%. The male:female ratio in the low-falls group was 1.2:1, and among the elderly patients, it was 0.5:1. Lesions at the cervical level were involved in 49.3%, thoracic in 24.7%, and lumbar/sacral in 23.5%. TSCI was complete in 16.9%. Concomitant injuries occurred in 47.2% of cases, and traumatic brain injuries in 37.7%. CONCLUSION:TSCI incidence decreased during the observation period and was 2.4 times more common among men than women. In half of the cases, injuries involved the cervical level, and a fall was the most frequent injury cause. Elderly women more often had falls from a low height than men. Multiple injuries-most frequently traumatic brain injuries-were common.