A 10-year population survey of spinal trauma and spinal cord injuries after road accidents in the Rhône area.
Fatalities or injuries following motorized and non-motorized vehicle accidents (MNMVA) are reported by police or health care systems. However, limited data exist for spinal injuries. Using an epidemiological database of road accidents occurring in a defined geographic area, we measured the incidence of major spinal trauma (MST, Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] score 2 or more), spinal cord injury (SCI, AIS score 4 or more), and associated lesions over a 10-year period (1997-2006). Among the 97,341 victims included, 21,623 (22.2%) suffered spinal trauma, but only 1523 (1.6%) and 144 (0.2%) sustained an MST or SCI, respectively, and among those 10% and 43% died, respectively, before reaching hospital facilities. Men were more likely to have SCI and die. Cervical injuries were more frequently observed for SCI (58%) than for MST (39%; p < 0.001). Motorcyclists were overrepresented in SCI (33%) compared to MST (21%; p < 0.001), and were at significant risk for fatality. Non-restrained car occupants were at risk of MST and SCI, whereas motorcyclists wearing helmets were not. The chest was the most frequently-injured body region. Nearly half of MNMVA victims suffering SCI die quickly after the crash. Young age, male gender, a motorcyclist, and non-restrained car occupant were risk factors for serious injury. These groups should be targeted in specific programs to decrease fatalities, spinal trauma, and SCI after MNMVA.
Service d'Anesthésie Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre Bénite Cedex, France. thomas.lieutaud@chu-lyon.fr
Thomas
T
Lieutaud
Amina
A
Ndiaye
Fanny
F
Frost
Mireille
M
Chiron
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001336:Automobiles; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles; D012622:Seat Belts; D012737:Sex Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*