Epidemiology of spinal injuries

ABSTRACT

One year study was conducted at Lahore General Hospital. A total of 173 patients were admitted. Eighty eight [51%] were from small towns and villages and eighty five [48.9%] were from major cities. Majority of patients [41%h] were between 21 to 40 years of age more men [69.7%] were admitted with spinal injuries than women [30.2%] most of them [39.5%] were from area between 11 to 40 miles around the Lahore General hospital Lahore. Commonest level of injury was cervical region [58.9%] maximum number of injuries [45.7%] were due to road traffic accident. Causative agent in twenty two [12.5%] patients was the firearm injuries. Agriculture related accidents were responsible in their three [19%] patients. Among all the 173 patients electric shock was responsible in four [2.3%] cases. Associated injuries were present in nineteen [10.4%] patients. Twenty one [12.5%] patients died during their stay in hospital. Spinal injury is one of the grave neurosurgical emergencies. It is because it involves young men who are usually the sole bread earners of their families. It has a poor prognosis and its incidence can be reduced by raising safety standards at work places and roads