@article{ref1,
title="Work-related traumatic spinal cord lesions in Chile, a 20-year epidemiological analysis",
journal="Spinal Cord",
year="2011",
author="Correa, G. I. and Finkelstein, J. M. and Burnier, L. A. and Danilla, S. E. and Tapia, L. Z. and Torres, V. N. and Castillo, J. C.",
volume="49",
number="2",
pages="196-199",
abstract="STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of patients with work-related traumatic spinal cord injuries (TSCI) in Chile. SETTING: Hospital del Trabajador in Santiago, Santiago, Chile. METHODS: Patients suffering from TSCI incurred at the workplace from 1986 to 2005 were identified through records of the Asociación Chilena de Seguridad (ACHS, Chilean Safety Association). RESULTS: The medical records of 173 patients, 172 men and 1 woman, were analyzed. The yearly average incidence was 7.8 per million workers. Age at TSCI onset was 38.2 ± 12.1 years. The principal external causes for TSCI incurred at the workplace were falls from a height in 86 cases (49.7%) and trauma blows to the vertebral spine in 61 cases (35.3 %). More falls occurred in the field construction, and other traumas occurred as a result of traumatic blows caused by tree trunks and stones in forestry and mining sectors. Mortality in this series was 8.7%, and the worst prognosis was for older patients with complete tetraplegia. The paraplegia:tetraplegia ratio was 3.2:1. CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics of workplace TSCI are specific to this population. It is important therefore to develop prevention programs for specific work-related TSCI.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1362-4393",
doi="10.1038/sc.2010.71",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sc.2010.71"
}