Citation

Ibrahim A, Lee KY, Kanoo LL, Tan CH, Hamid MA, Hamedon NM, Haniff J. Spine 2013; 38(5): 419-424.

Affiliation

*Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. †Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Clinical Research Centre, Malaysia ‡Biostatistics Unit, Clinical Research Centre, Malaysia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/BRS.0b013e31826ef594

PMID

22914700

Abstract

Study Design. Cross-sectional study.Objective. To examine the demographic characteristics, etiology, the type and degree of disability of both traumatic and non- traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCI) managed in a tertiary care hospital in Malaysia.Summary of Background Data. There is a lack of data on the epidemiology of spinal cord injuries in Malaysia. These data are needed to plan for an effective implementation of primary prevention strategies, appropriate management programs and proper allocation of health resource in this area.Methods. All patients with newly diagnosed spinal cord injuries and who were admitted to Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hospital Kuala Lumpur from 2006 to 2009 were reviewed. The data was obtained by extraction from the case records of the patients. The variables of interest analysed were their demographic profiles, etiology of the injury, the types of disability and their degree of impairment.Results. There were 292 patients included in the study, of which 224 (77%) were males. The mean age was 39 years with a range between 2 years and 82 years. Malays formed the majority (59%). 46% were of the lower income group earning less than USD 180 per month. More than half of the injuries (57%) were traumatic in origin, involving mainly young males of between 16 to 30 years. Among traumatic SCI, motor vehicle accidents (MVA) were identified as the main cause (66%), followed by falls (28%).Of those admitted, 63% subsequently became paraplegic and 37% became tetraplegic. About half (51%) were severe SCI (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale of A and B).Conclusion. Rehabilitation for SCI is a burden to the health resources. Prevention strategies are the answer and should focus on increasing awareness and compliance to road and workplace safety especially among young adult males.

Language: en