title: Epidemiology of spine trauma in an Irish regional trauma unit: a 4-year study.
abstract: Currently there is a lack of information on the full spectrum of spine trauma presenting to medical services in a defined geographic area. This study analyses the aetiology and demographics of a cohort of spine trauma in the West of Ireland. A regional trauma unit has been investigated for a 51-month period. Two hundred and eighty-five cases admitted with spine trauma were documented. The annual incidence of traumatic spinal injury was 19.54 cases/100,000 persons per year. Falls and low-energy trauma are shown to constitute a significant proportion of all cases (60.35%). Injury at greater than one level is frequently present. The highest peak of injury occurred in the 20-24-year-old age group (11.58%). A second peak occurred at 75-79 years of age (7.37%). The commonest cause of neurological injury was falls (n=9; 64.3%). This spine trauma register has provided valuable insights into the patterns of injury encountered in spine trauma patients in this region. It may act as a blueprint for a national spine trauma register and highlights the importance of patient education and injury prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Merlin Park Regional Hospital, 50 Carrigeen, Knocknacarra, Galway, Ireland. drsimonroche@gmail.com
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sloane
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: McCabe
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention / Q000592:standards*; D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data