Patients with Blunt Traumatic Spine Injuries with Neurological Deficits Presenting to an Urban Tertiary Care Centre in Mumbai: An Epidemiological Study
- Author:
Anoop C Dhamangaonkar
;
Deepak Joshi
;
Ravinish Kumar
;
Arvind B Goregaonkar
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Trauma;
Spine;
Deficit;
Poor;
safety;
awareness
- From:Malaysian Orthopaedic Journal
2013;7(1):36-40
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: Traumatic spine injuries are on the rise. The
literature is sparse regarding epidemiology of patients with traumatic spine injuries from this part of the world.
Objectives: To analyse the following in patients with
traumatic spine injuries with neurological deficits:
demographic and social profile, common modes of injury,
pre-hospitalisation practices, region of spine affected,
severity of neurological deficit and the lay individuals’
awareness about traumatic spine injuries. Methods: The
study sample comprised 52 adult patients with traumatic
spine injuries with neurological deficits. We collected data on demographic and social characteristics, mode of injury, pre-hospitalisation treatment, interval between injury and presentation, spine region affected and severity of neurological deficits and patient's knowledge about such injuries. Results: The average patient age was 31.32y. The male: female ratio was 2.25:1, and the most common modes of injury were fall from height, followed by traffic accident.
More than half of the patients suffered cervical spine
injuries, followed by dorsolumbar spine injuries. Only
9.61% of patients received pre-hospitalisation treatment. All patients understood there could be complete functional
recovery after treatment for traumatic spine injuries.
Conclusion: There is a growing need to improve railway and
roadway safety equipment and to make it accessible and
affordable to the susceptible economically weaker
population. Attempts should be made to increase awareness
regarding traumatic spine injuries.
