@article{ref1,
title="Epidemiology of spinal fractures and associated spinal cord injuries in Iceland",
journal="Spinal cord series and cases",
year="2018",
author="Kristinsdottir, Eyrún Arna and Knutsdottir, Sigrun and Sigvaldason, Kristinn and Jonsson, Halldor and Ingvarsson, Pall E.",
volume="4",
number="",
pages="e74-e74",
abstract="STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective epidemiological study. SETTING: Landspítali University Hospital, Iceland. <br><br>OBJECTIVES: Assessment of epidemiological data and risk factors for traumatic spinal fractures (SFs) and associated spinal cord injury (SCI). <br><br>METHODS: A retrospective review of hospital admissions due to traumatic SFs during a 5-year period, with analysis of epidemiological parameters and occurrence of concomitant SCI. Patients with asymptomatic SFs and non-traumatic SCI were excluded. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 487 patients were diagnosed with a SF or 310 PMI (per million inhabitants), 42 of them (9%, 27 PMI) with an associated SCI. The mean age was 56 years, males were 57%. Falls were the leading cause of both SFs (49%) and SCIs (43%). Low falls (<1 m) caused SFs more often in elderly women (67%, mean age 77 years) and more than 96% were without SCI. Road traffic accidents (RTA) caused 31% of SFs and 26% of SCIs. Seat belts were not used in 20% of car accidents, but information was missing in 27%. Sports/leisure-related accidents caused SFs in 12% of cases, whereof horseback riding accidents were the most common (36%). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: SFs led to SCI in 9% of patients. Several risk factors were common for SFs and SCIs but two major differences were seen: SFs without SCI were most common in older women due to low falls, while the risk of a concomitant SCI increased in young patients, in males, in falls from high levels and when driving without using seat belts. Preventive efforts should therefore be directed towards these risk factors.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2058-6124",
doi="10.1038/s41394-018-0112-5",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41394-018-0112-5"
}