Pattern Of Traumatic And Non-Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries - A Hospital Based Study In Haryana

Abstract

The demographic characteristics and rehabilitation outcomes of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (T-SCI) have been extensively studied across the globe, whereas there has been limited research done on patients with non- traumatic spinal cord injury (NT-SCI). Studies observing the patterns and statistics of both T-SCI and NT-SCI are insufficient in developing countries, especially in India. Thereby, a retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the factors involved to improve the management of SCI. The aim of this study was to analyze the demographic profile and injury pattern of persons admitted with T-SCI and NT-SCI in a paraplegic rehabilitation center from August, 2015 to May, 2019. The injury pattern of 663 patients was observed in the present study, with ratio of T-SCI: NT-SCI of 4.30:1. Highest incidence of T-SCI and NT-SCI was found in the rural male population in the age group of 20-29 years and 30-39 years. Fracture and Pott’s spine disease with an incidence of 72.1% and 17.49% of SCI were primary etiologies for T-SCI and NT-SCI respectively, with maximum occurrence in the thoracolumbar region. On comparing T-SCI with NT-SCI based on the level of spinal injury, the ratio of TSCI: NT-SCI in cervical spine was 58.33:1; 1.89:1 in thoracic spine and 8.6:1 in lumbar spine. Lower percentage of cervical injuries and prevalence of thoracolumbar injuries in T-SCI category and prevalence of Pott’s disease in NT-SCI category, predict that demographic profile of both T-SCI as well as NT-SCI in India is different from developed countries. There is a need for upgradation of the first-aid services and rural health care facilities for effective management of injuries of cervical spine. Eradication of tuberculosis through definitive measures is the need of hour for prevention and effective management of NT-SCI.