Need for a Spinal Injuries Center in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Letters to the EditorNeed for a Spinal Injuries Center in Saudi Arabia Mir Sadat-AliMBBS, FRCS, DOrth Mir Sadat-Ali Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, P.O. Box 40071, Al-Khobar 31952, Saudi Arabia Search for more papers by this author Published Online::1 May 1990https://doi.org/10.5144/0256-4947.1990.341SectionsPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationTrack citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail AboutIntroductionTo the Editor: In the last two decades Saudi Arabia has achieved miracles, not only in areas such as industry, housing, and roads, but also in its medical service. Cardiac and renal transplantation, in vitro fertilization, and other highly specialized medical and surgical procedures are carried out routinely. This rapid transformation has brought with it unforeseen problems–one is paraplegia due to spinal fractures. The cause of spinal fracture is usually trauma, whether a motor vehicle or industrial accident. Road traffic accidents are the second major medical problem in Saudi Arabia.1 It is estimated that, in the United States alone, 32 patients are admitted per million per year with spinal fractures and of these half remain permanently paralyzed.2 The condition of 25% of these patients worsens temporarily or permanently due to poor transport, improper immobilization, and poor diagnosis. A study conducted by the World Health Organization concluded that the final disability can be reduced by 50% if the injury is precisely diagnosed.3At present there are no statistics for spinal fractures in the Kingdom. At the King Fahd University Hospital, Al-Khobar, records indicate that, between 1982 and 1988, 101 patients were admitted with thoracolumbar spinal fractures with and without paraplegia.6 Many other hospitals in the Eastern Province (i.e., Ministry of Health and private), including the trauma centre at Al-Hassa, also treat these fractures. These injuries may be more common here than in the United States.Every effort is being made by governments, news media, traffic police, and industrial safety committees to prevent accidents by educating the work force and the public to proper safety measures. Despite all this, accidents still occur that lead to spinal fractures.The benefits of managing patients with spinal fractures at spinal centers are well documented.4,5 The trained personnel of the spinal injuries center work as a team comprising orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, urologists, nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists. They not only care for the acutely injured patient in a medical sense, but also help the paraplegic adjust to his or her physical incapacity and their life at home and in the community. This can be best achieved in the Kingdom through the services of a spinal injuries center.ARTICLE REFERENCES:1. Mufti MH. "Road traffic accidents as a public health problem in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia" . J Traff Med. 1983; 11 (4): 65–9. Google Scholar2. Kraus JF. Epidemiological aspects of acute spinal injury: a review of incidence, prevalence, causes and outcome. In: Becker DP, Polvistock JT, eds. Central nervous system trauma, status report 1985. National Institutes of Health: Washington. 1985;313–22. Google Scholar3. Bedbrook GM. "Thoracolumbar spinal injuries (editorial)" . Curr Orthopaedics. 1988; 2 (4): 207–9. Google Scholar4. Bedbrook GM. "The development and care of spinal cord paralysis (1918-86)" . Paraplegia. 1987; 25: 172–84. Google Scholar5. McAfee PC, Bohlman HH. "Complications following Harrington instrumentation for fractures of thoracolumbar spine" . J Bone Joint Surg [Am]. 1985; 67: 672–86. Google Scholar6. Sadat-Ali M, Sankaran Kutty M, Chowdhary UM, Corea JR. "Thoraco-lumbar fractures: an analysis of 101 cases" . Presented at the First U. A. E. Conference on Trauma and Emergency Surgery, Dubai (U. A. E.)1988, February 17 to 21, p 61. Google Scholar Previous article Next article FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 10, Issue 3May 1990 Metrics History Published online1 May 1990 InformationCopyright © 1990, Annals of Saudi MedicinePDF download