Evaluation of the relationship between the level of spinal vertebra injuries due to traffic accidents and additional injuries

Abstract

Vertebral injuries are mostly seen in patients with multiple trauma. Because of high energy trauma, especially in young patients, it is associated with additional injuries. It was observed that there are not enough studies on this subject in our country. In this study, we aimed to explain the incidence of vertebral injuries and the characteristics of both concomitant and vertebral injuries and contribute to the literature by investigating the presence of additional injuries in patients with vertebral injuries resulting from traffic accidents. Data were recorded on the age, sex, type of trauma, spinal injury level, additional organ injury, GCS, neurological deficits, intensive care admittance, and mortality status of all patients. The data used in the study were obtained from the hospital’s automation system and patients’ files. The mean age of the 166 spinal trauma patients included in the study was 36.7±15.4 (Median:35; 95% Cl:34.1-38.7) years and 65.7% of the patients were male. Mortality rate in emergency department was 0.6%, mortality frequency was not associated with additional organ injury, trauma cause and spinal level but the results were not statistically significant (p> 0.05). The presence of additional injury increased the frequency of intensive care admission, the results were statistically significant (p