Spinal Cord Lesions: Epidemiological Characterization of the Last Decade in an Acute patient Hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25759/spmfr.299Keywords:
Spinal Cord Injuries/epidemiologyAbstract
Introduction: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the lesions with greater organic, psychological and social impact for the patient. The analysis and understanding of its epidemiological evolution allows the health system to implement preventive measures, as well as directing resources towards better management.
Our objective was to characterize the spinal cord injury population, with injury occurring within 10 years and observed in the outpatient Physiatric clinic of Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted that included 162 patients observed between January 2007 and December 2017, with an injury occurring in this period. Demographic and clinical data were collected from electronic clinical processes.
Results: Ninety five patients (58.65%) had non-traumatic SCI and 41.35% SCI of traumatic cause. In both groups there was a predominance of males and there was no difference in mean age, with peak incidence between the fifth and sixth decades of life. Regarding the etiology of SCI, we observed a predominance of falls in an elderly population and a smaller number of traffic accidents in younger populations. Comparing the neurological level with the etiology of the lesion (traumatic versus non-traumatic), we found a cervical predominance in both. In the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) we found a predominance of incomplete lesions in the non-trauma group, with statistical significance (p <0.005).
Conclusion: The results found in this study provide information on the reality of SCI in Portugal and reflect the paradigm shift regarding the epidemiology of spinal cord lesions in the last decades, with a preferential reach of more advanced age groups and a progressive increase of non- traumatic SCI.
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