Retrospective evaluation of spinal cord injury victims presented to the emergency department

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of study was to determine the cause, age, existence of neuro-deficits, presence of additional traumatic pathologies and segmental level of traumatic spinal cord injuries.
Material and Method: All 43 patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries admitted to the emergency department of an University hospital from january 2000 to december 2001 were included. Data were obtained from medical files and studied retrospectively.
Results: 43 patients were enrolled into the study; 25 (%58.1) were male and 18(%41.8) were female. Falls (%60) and road accidents (%34) were the main causes. The initial clinical level of injury was the cervical spine in %60 of the patients, the thoracic spine in %23 and the lumbar spine %11. Mortality rate was %6.9. There was a neurological deficid on 14 (%32.6) patients.
Conclusion: Demographic data, existence of neuro-deficits, presence of additional traumatic pathologies, segmental level of cord injuries of patients with spinal trauma were consistent with the literature. Detailed evaluation and close monitoring of these patents in the emergency department is vital.