Incidence, aetiology and injury characteristics of traumatic spinal cord injury in Stockholm, Sweden: a prospective, population-based update
Date
2017Author
Joseph, Conran
Andersson, Nina
Bjelak, Sapko
Giesecke, Kajsa
Hultling, Claes
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
OBJECTIVES: To update the incidence rate, aetiology
and injury characteristics of acutely-injured adults
with traumatic spinal cord injury in Stockholm, Sweden,
using international standards of reporting.
Study design: Prospective, (regional) populationbased
observation.
SUBJECTS: Forty-nine consecutively enrolled individuals.
METHODS: A surveillance system of newly-injured
adults with traumatic spinal cord injury was implemented
for an 18-month period. The International
Spinal Cord Injury Core Data Set was used to collect
data on those who survived the first 7 days postinjury.
RESULTS: After an 18-month period, 49 incident cases
were registered, of whom 45 were included in this
study. The crude incidence rate was 19.0 per million,
consisting mainly of men (60%), and the mean age
of the cohort was 55 years (median 58). Causes of
injury were almost exclusively limited to falls and
transport-related events, accounting for 58% and
40% of cases, respectively. The incidence has remained
stable when compared with the previous study;
however, significant differences exist for injury
aetiology (p = 0.004) and impairment level (p = 0.01)
in that more fall- and transport-related spinal cord
injury occurred, and a larger proportion of persons
was left with resultant tetraplegia, in the current study,
compared with more sport-related injuries and
those left with paraplegia in the previous study.
CONCLUSION: The incidence rate appeared to remain
stable in Stockholm, Sweden. However, significant
changes in injury aetiology and impairment-level
post injury were found, compared with the previous
study. There remains a need for developing fall-related
prevention strategies in rehabilitation settings
as well as in population-based programmes.