TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2008//
TI  - Epidemiology of spine trauma in an Irish regional trauma unit: A 4-year study
JO  - Injury
A1  - Roche, Simon J.
A1  - Sloane, Peter A.
A1  - McCabe, J. P.
SP  - 436
EP  - 442
VL  - 39
IS  - 4
N2  - Currently there is a lack of information on the full spectrum of spine trauma presenting to medical services in a defined geographic area. This study analyses the aetiology and demographics of a cohort of spine trauma in the West of Ireland. A regional trauma unit has been investigated for a 51-month period. Two hundred and eighty-five cases admitted with spine trauma were documented. The annual incidence of traumatic spinal injury was 19.54 cases/100,000 persons per year. Falls and low-energy trauma are shown to constitute a significant proportion of all cases (60.35%). Injury at greater than one level is frequently present. The highest peak of injury occurred in the 20-24-year-old age group (11.58%). A second peak occurred at 75-79 years of age (7.37%). The commonest cause of neurological injury was falls (n=9; 64.3%). This spine trauma register has provided valuable insights into the patterns of injury encountered in spine trauma patients in this region. It may act as a blueprint for a national spine trauma register and highlights the importance of patient education and injury prevention strategies.  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0020-1383
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2007.12.012
ID  - ref1
ER  -