Article

Retrospective data analysis. OBJECTIVES: Traumatic spinal cord
injury (TSCI) is a devastating injury that causes a lifelong disability,
involving mostly young men. The aim of the study was to analyse some clinical and
epidemiological features of TSCI patients admitted to the Spinal Unit of
Florence, Italy, during 30 years, from 1981 to 2010. SETTING: Spinal Unit,
Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy. METHODS: The medical files from the
computerised database of the patients who sustained TSCI from 1 January 1981 to
31 December 2010 and received comprehensive care in the same centre were
analysed. Information was collected with regard to demographic data, causes of
injury, time of injury, associated injuries, treatment of the vertebral lesion
and neurological condition at discharge. RESULTS: A total of 1479 patients were
included. The number of two-wheeler road traffic accidents (RTAs) has increased
over the years, whereas the percentage of falls and sports accidents has been
quite constant. The lesions due to 4-wheeler RTAs tend to decrease. Lesions due
to falls mainly affected older persons than those due to sports accidents, with a
mean age at the time of injury of 52 and 25 years, respectively. Diving was the
most common cause among sports and leisure accidents. Associated injuries were
present in 56% of all the cases included. CONCLUSION: The cases of spinal cord
injury due to two-wheeler RTAs have increased over the years probably because of
the increasing diffusion of the use of such a vehicle, and such an eventuality
has to be taken into consideration in future prevention strategies.

Langue : ANGLAIS