title: Demographics of acute admissions to a National Spinal Injuries Unit.
abstract: This prospective demographic study was undertaken to review the epidemiology and demographics of all acute admissions to the National Spinal Injuries Unit in Ireland for the 5 years to 2003. The study was conducted at the National Spinal Injuries Unit, Mater Miscericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Records of all patients admitted to our unit from 1999 to 2003 were compiled from a prospective computerized spinal database. In this 5-year period, 942 patients were acutely hospitalized at the National Spinal Injuries Unit. There were 686 (73%) males and 256 (27%) females, with an average age of 32 years (range 16-84 years). The leading cause of admission with a spinal injury was road traffic accidents (42%), followed by falls (35%), sport (11%), neoplasia (7.5%) and miscellaneous (4.5%). The cervical spine was most commonly affected (51%), followed by lumbar (28%) and thoracic (21%). On admission 38% of patients were ASIA D or worse, of which one-third were AISA A. Understanding of the demographics of spinal column injuries in unique populations can help us to develop preventative and treatment strategies at both national and international levels.
authors.affiliation: National Spinal Injuries Unit, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mater Miscericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. blenehan@gmail.com
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lenehan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boran
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Street
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Poynton
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000208:Acute Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult