Clinical and demographic profile of traumatic spinal cord injury: a Mexican hospital-based study.
METHODS
Review of clinical data.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and demographical profile of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) admitted to a single center.


METHODS
Unidad de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación Centro, México.


METHODS
Patients with TSCI attending rehabilitation for the first time.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Age, gender, educational level, occupational activity, causes of injury, level of injury, neurological level, injury severity and category were recorded.


RESULTS
Four hundred and sixty-four clinical files of patients with TSCI were collected. The mean age was 37.9 ± 15.9 years; 78.2% (363/464) were male, basic educational level predominated in 63.6% (296/464) and 73.1% (339/464) were employed. A fall was the main mechanism of the injury in 41.6% (193/464), replacing automobile accidents from the first place. The mean age of persons who suffered falls was 44 ± 16 years. Injuries sustained by younger persons were due to violence (28.4 ± 10.1 years) and the cause of injury associated with male gender was violence. Thoracic level was most often affected (in 56.7%, 263/464) and neurological level C4 in 13.4% (62/464). In regard to the extent of the injury, lesions classified as American Spinal Injury Association A predominated (56.2%, 261/464) as with complete paraplegia in 43.3% (201/464).


CONCLUSIONS
The mean age of our patients was 37 years. Men are affected in a higher proportion. Our population has <9 years of study. Physical labor was the usual pre-injury activity. The main mechanism of injury was falls. Thoracic spine was the most affected.
Coordinación Clínica de Educación e Investigación en Salud, Unidad de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación Centro, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Hospital de Traumatología y Ortopedia 'Lomas Verdes', Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, D.F., México.
M V
MV
Rodríguez-Meza
Unidad de Investigación en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, 'Hospital de Especialidades Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI' IMSS, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, D.F., México.
M
M
Paredes-Cruz
Unidad de Investigación en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, 'Hospital de Especialidades Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI' IMSS, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, D.F., México.
I
I
Grijalva
Coordinación Clínica de Educación e Investigación en Salud, Unidad de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación Centro, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Hospital de Traumatología y Ortopedia 'Lomas Verdes', Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, D.F., México.
D
D
Rojano-Mejía
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult