Abstract
Morbidity and mortality of spinal cord injured patients (SCI) in the Brazilian Amazon region is reviewed. In deforestation places this kind of injury is usually caused by the fall of cut trees over the victim. Deforestation activity is usually illicit and worker’s protection and safety are unsatisfactory. SCI due to deforestation accidents have not been studied by scientificresearchers, do not appear in the governmental health statistics and frequently are not recognized as an occupational hazard. We present a series of 16 patients with SCI who were followed at the Neurosurgery Service of State Foundation Hospital of Acre – FUNDHACRE in the State of Acre – Brazil, from March to December, 2000. Among these 16 patients, SCI was due to deforestation accidents (5 cases), correspondeng to 31.3% oftotal cases; car crashes (25.0%); falls (12.5%); diving in shallow water (12.5%) and lesions due to firearm or knife (18.7%). Mortality rate in this case series was 6.3% (1 case). Residual lesions of SCI were noticed in 14 (93,3%) out of 15 cases.
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