|
Affiliation
|
Department of Neurosurgery, Tampere University Hospital, P.O. Box 2000, FI-33521 Tampere, Finland,. Electronic address: antti.ronkainen@pshp.fi. |
|
Abstract
|
BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The number of cervical spine injuries (CSIs) is increasing. CSIs are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Identifying those who are at risk for CSI-related death can help develop national and international interventions and policies to reduce mortality.
PURPOSE: To determine the trends in the incidence and the characteristics of fatal cervical spine injuries (CSIs) in XXXXX over a 24-year study period from 1987 to 2010. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A large nationwide, retrospective, register-based study. PATIENT SAMPLE: The population-based sample was collected from death certificates issued in XXXX between 1987 and 2010. The death certificates were obtained from the official Cause-of-Death Register, coordinated by Statistics XXXX, which covers all deaths occurring in XXXX. OUTCOME MEASURES: Socio-demographics and injury- and death related data.
METHODS: All death certificates issued in XXXX (1987-2010) containing a CSI as the cause of death were carefully reviewed.
RESULTS: A total of 2041 fatal CSIs were identified. These constituted 0.17% of all deaths in XXXX within the study period. The average annual incidence of fatal CSIs was 16.5/million (range: 12.5-21.2). The majority of the victims were male (72.9%) and had concurrent spinal cord injury (83.0%). Traffic accidents (40.1%) and falls (45.0%) were the most common injury mechanisms. Almost one third (29.8%) of the deaths were alcohol-related. Among the young victims (<60 years) with upper CSI (C0-C2), the majority (91.8%) died within 24 hours post-injury. One third of elderly victims (≥60 years) CSI-related deaths occurred after one week post-injury and were mostly (74.2%) caused by respiratory- and circulatory system diseases. Within the 24-year period, the incidence of fatal CSIs (+2/million), as well as the average age of sustaining a fatal CSI (+13.5 years), increased markedly. Fall-induced accidents among elderly males were the most prominently increasing subpopulation of fatal CSI victims.
CONCLUSIONS: In recent decades, fatal CSI incidence (death certificate-based) has increased, being 18.6/million in XXXX in 2010. Victims of fatal CSIs tend to be older than in the past, and for a substantial number of males, low-energy falls lead to cervical trauma and death.
Language: en |