DOS 2017

DOS Kongressen 2017 ·

Spinal Injury Epidemiology based on patients referred

to a Tertiary Care Centre: Pilot study from the SPinal

INjury Epidemiology Database

Oliver Zielinski, Rune Bech, Martin Gehrchen, Benny Dahl

HovedOrtoCenteret, Rigshospitalet;; Division of Orthopedics, Texas Children’s

Hospital

Background:

The epidemiology of spinal injuries is largely unknown. Most stud-

ies have focused on specific subpopulations of patients, specific trauma mecha-

nisms, or specific spinal levels, and as such have not provided a complete over-

view of spinal injury epidemiology. Consequently, a comprehensive description

of spinal injuries is of relevance.

Purpose / Aim of Study:

Our study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of

spinal injuries in a general population. Specifically, we wanted to assess any dif-

ference in injury pattern amongst young and elderly patients.

Materials and Methods:

All patients referred for a spinal injury to the Spine

Unit at Rigshospitalet during a 4-month period, were prospectively registered

regarding age, gender, trauma mechanism, and treatment. Younger patients

were defined as patients ≤65 years of age.

Findings / Results:

A total of 132 patients were registered during the study

period corresponding to an annual incidence of 21.9/100,000. The ratio of male

to female patients was 1:1.3, and 60% of patients were >65 years of age. 61%

of injuries were the result of low-energy (LE) trauma, and significantly more

female patients and patients >65 years of age sustained LE trauma (P<0.001).

25% of patients ≤65 years of age were treated surgically compared to 11% of

patients >65 years of age. This difference, however, was not significant.

Conclusions:

The incidence of elderly patients sustaining spinal injuries as a

result of LE trauma, represent a group of considerable size in relation to total

spinal injuries sustained in a general population, and one that is much larger than

previously published. Further effort will be made to quantify the exact nature of

this patient group, and the burden it represents compared to younger patients

sustaining high- energy trauma.

No conflicts of interest reported

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