Epidemiology of spine injuries

Abstract

Background: Retrospective epidemiological analysis of 100 patients with trauma spine injury. Method: Data were collected through a local spine injury protocol, performing a transversal model. Results: Major incidence varied from 20 to 40 years old (64% cases); 86% were male; thoracolumbar segment was the most injured segment (64%) whereas cervical segment counted for 36%. Simple falls were the most important cause, followed by car crash accident (25%) and complex falls (23%). Fire arm injuries counted for 7%, shallow dives for 3% and aggressions for 2%. Additional analysis between age, sex, cause, and spine segment was made. We found a greater incidence of cervical injury in females when in comparison to males (85.7% versus 14.3%). Conclusion: Spine injuries, prevailed in males between 20 and 40 years old, and the cervical segment was prevalent in women in a 6:1 proportion.