title: Incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury in Denmark, 1990-2012: a hospital-based study.
abstract: METHODS
  Hospital-based incidence study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the incidence of traumatic spinal cord injuries (TSCIs) and TSCI incidence trends in relation to cause, age, gender, level and completeness of injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Western Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed medical records of TSCI patients admitted between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2012. Proportions, incidence rates and incidence rate ratios were calculated for five time periods; 1990-94, 1995-99, 2000-04, 2005-09 and 2010-12, and were stratified on age, gender, cause, level and completeness of TSCI. TSCI incidence was calculated as the number of new cases divided by person-years at risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Included were 691 patients (males 81.9%). Within the study period, median age at time of injury rose from 29.0 to 47.5 years. The overall annual TSCI incidence during the study period 1990-94 to 2010-12 was 10.2 per million person-years at risk and varied from 8.3 to 11.8. The proportion of transport-related injuries fell from 56.9% in the first to 36.8% in the most recent time period. Fall-related injuries rose from 11.1 to 35.5%. The proportion of incomplete tetraplegia increased from 32.0% in the first to 40.5% in the last time period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall TSCI incidence is low and remained stable from 1990 to 2012. The proportion of transport-related injuries fell, while age at time of injury and proportion of fall-related injuries and proportion with incomplete tetraplegia all increased.
authors.affiliation: 1] Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Western Denmark, Viborg, Denmark [2] Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark [3] Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bjørnshave Noe
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
authors.affiliation: Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Western Denmark, Viborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: 1] Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Western Denmark, Viborg, Denmark [2] Spinal Cord Research Center Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thygesen
authors.affiliation: 1] Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Western Denmark, Viborg, Denmark [2] Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark [3] Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hagen
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult