Epidemiology of Spinal Injury in North East India: A Retrospective Study

Epidemiology of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in the Himalayan Range and Sub-Himalayan region: A Retrospective Hospital Data-Based Study

OBJECTIVE

To compile epidemiological characteristics of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in the Northern Indian Himalayan regions and Sub-Himalayan planes.

METHODS

The present study is a retrospective, cross-sectional descriptive analysis based on hospital data conducted at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Spine Unit of Trauma Centre in a tertiary care hospital in Uttarakhand, India. People hospitalized at the tertiary care center between August 2018 and November 2021 are included in the study sample. A prestructured proforma was employed for the evaluation, including demographic and epidemiological characteristics.

RESULTS

TSCI was found in 167 out of 3,120 trauma patients. The mean age of people with TSCI was 33.5±13.3, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.4:1. Eighty-three participants (49.7%) were from the plains, while the hilly region accounts for 50.3%. People from the plains had a 2.9:1 rural-to-urban ratio, whereas the hilly region had a 6:1 ratio. The overall most prevalent cause was Falls (59.3%), followed by road traffic accidents (RTAs) (35.9%). RTAs (57.2%) were the most common cause of TSCI in the plains' urban regions, while Falls (58.1%) were more common in rural plains. In both urban (66.6%) and rural (65.3%) parts of the hilly region, falls were the most common cause.

CONCLUSION

TSCI is more common in young males, especially in rural hilly areas. Falls rather than RTAs are the major cause.

"God will decide her fate": the trajectories of women with traumatic spinal cord injury in India

PURPOSE

Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating physical disabilities that unexpectedly affects physical, mental, familial, social, and economic aspects of people's lives. This article analyses the trajectories of Indian women with SCI as they attempt to access health care after the injury.

METHODS

Based on a qualitative research paradigm, this study adopts a phenomenological approach and conducts in-depth interviews with 21 Indian women with traumatic SCI.

RESULTS

(A) A lack of awareness and basic knowledge about SCI in India makes emergency response and eventual reintegration of persons with SCI in the society challenging. (B) The Indian health systems fail to meet the comprehensive health care needs of women with SCI primarily due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure and lack of empathy, accountability and knowledge about SCI among general healthcare providers. (C) The lack of patient and caregiver education results in diminished health and wellbeing of injured and their families.

CONCLUSION

The issue of SCI is not only a health issue but an issue of human rights. The persons with SCI, particularly women, must get an equitable access to health care, education, employment, transportation and other basic amenities and opportunities. Implications for rehabilitationA comprehensive response to SCI entails concerted measures such as ramping up the disability-inclusive healthcare infrastructure and enhancing the capacities of all health care providers.Besides providing rehabilitation services through the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of the health systems, India should also prioritise and offer quality community-based rehabilitation, especially in remote and rural areas.Given the unique vulnerabilities faced by women with disabilities in India, a compressive package of gender sensitive rehabilitation services needs to be integrated within the overall rehabilitation services across the country.The persons with SCI (and their families) need to be empowered through comprehensive information, counselling and skills that could help them lead independent, productive, and dignified lives.There is an urgent need to foster SCI research and make disaggregated data on SCI publicly available so that policy response to SCI is based on scientific evidence and local realities.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF VERTEBRAL SPINE FRACTURES IN A HOSPITAL IN SÃO PAULO IN THE TWO-YEAR PERIOD 2017-2018

ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate the epidemiological profile of patients with spinal fractures over a two-year period (2017 and 2018) in a quaternary hospital in the city of São Paulo. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out through the analysis of the electronic medical records of patients treated by the Spine group of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology at the Orthopedics and Traumatology Emergency Room of Hospital das Clínicas de São Paulo in the years 2017 and 2018. Results: A total of 185 patients were evaluated over two years. Males were the gender most frequently evaluated (69.19%), and the mean patient age was 43.95 years. The most common trauma mechanisms were falls from a height (45.95%) and traffic accidents (29.73%). The cervical spine, affected in 28.65%, was the most affected region, followed by the thoracolumbar region (26.56%). Most patients did not present deficits at the initial moment (71.89%) and 54.05% of patients underwent surgery for treatment. Conclusion: Most traumas involving the spine affect adults of working age (from 20 to 60 years old), with a predominance of males. Most injuries occurred in the cervical region, which is the region most commonly associated with severe trauma and neurological injuries. This study can help in planning prevention and precaution strategies for spinal trauma. Level of evidence III; Cross-sectional study.

Traumatic spine injuries in Eastern India: A retrospective observational study

Background:

Trauma is the leading cause of hospitalization globally, and trauma-induced spinal injuries can be devastating and permanent. The objective of this study was to describe the pattern, association, and outcome in patients with traumatic spine injury (TSI).

Methods:

A retrospective cross-sectional study was undertaken on patients with TSI who presented to the trauma and emergency department of a level 1 trauma center in eastern India between August 15, 2018, and August 14, 2019, by including 103 patients. Information pertaining to demography, mode of injury (MOI), fracture morphology, neurological grading, and associated spinal or other regional injuries was obtained. Correlation among injury severity score (ISS), neurological damage as per American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), and morphological patterns was determined.

Results:

The median age was 39 years, and the gender ratio was 5.87:1. Fall from height (43.7%) was the most common MOI. The median ISS was 21, and the percentage of patients with polytrauma was 73% (ISS > 15). The cervical region (n = 30) was the most common site of injury, and multiple vertebral involvement (n = 32) was more common than isolated involvement. Type A pattern (53.4%) was the predominant type, followed by types C and B (29.1% and 15.5%, respectively) for primary spine injury, and type A was the predominant type for secondary spinal injury. Severe neurological damage (ASIA A-C) was noticed in 69 patients. The correlation between ISS and ASIA scores (Spearman's ρ = 0.561, P < 0.001) and between morphology type and ASIA score (Pearson's χ ²= 69.7, P < 0.001) was statistically significant. In total, 53 patients were managed surgically and 24 patients were managed by conservative measures.

Conclusion:

Our study found a predominantly younger population, multilevel involvement, significant neurological damage, multiple associated injuries, and higher ISS among the patients of TSI. The pattern in eastern India is different from previous reports from other parts of the country.

Literature review on assistive devices available for quadriplegic people: Indian context

PURPOSE

This literature review aims to find the current state of the art in self-help devices (SHD) available for people with quadriplegia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched original articles, technical and case studies, conference articles, and literature reviews published between 2014 to 2019 with the keywords ("Self-help devices" OR "Assistive Devices" OR "Assistive Product" OR "Assistive Technology") AND "Quadriplegia" in Science Direct, Pubmed, IEEE Xplore digital library and Web of Science.

RESULTS

Total 222 articles were found. After removing duplicates and screening these articles based on their title and abstracts 80 articles remained. After this, we reviewed the full text, and articles unrelated to SHD development or about the patients who require mechanical ventilation or where the upper limb is functional (C2 or above and T2 or below injuries) were discarded. After the exclusion of articles using the above-mentioned criterion 75 articles were used for further review.

CONCLUSION

The abandonment rate of SHD currently available in the literature is very high. The major requirement of the people was independence and improved quality of life. The situation in India is very bad as compared to the developed countries. The people with spinal cord injury in India are uneducated and very poor, with an average income of 3000 ₹ (41$). They require SHDs and training specially designed for them, keeping their needs in mind.Implications for rehabilitationPeople with quadriplegia are totally dependent on caregivers. Assistive devices not only help these people to do day-to-day tasks but also provides them self-confidence.Even though there are a lot of self-help devices currently available, still they are not able to fulfil the requirements of people with quadriplegia, hence there is a very high abandonment rate of such devices.This study provides an evidence that developing devices after understanding the functional and non-functional requirements of these subjects will decrease the abandonment rate and increase the effectiveness of the device.The results of this study can be used for planning and developing assistive devices which are more focussed on fulfilling the requirements of people with quadriplegia.

Pattern of spine fracture in Sub-Himalayan region: A prospective study

BACKGROUND

Though spine trauma contributes to great functional, psychological, and economic loss, research regarding the demographic profile of patients according to different regions of our country are lacking.This study aims to identify the demographic pattern and clinical profile of patients with spinal fracture in the Sub-Himalayan region.

METHOD

Patients with acute or subacute spine trauma presenting within 8weeks and involving fracture of cervical, dorsal, or lumbar vertebra, from July 2017 to December 2019 were included prospectively. Patients with osteoporotic or metastatic collapse, isolated transverse or spinous process fracture, penetrating trauma or ballistic injuries were excluded.

RESULTS

Out of 280 enrolled patients, 180 were males and 100 were females. The maximum number of spine trauma patients was in 16-30 years age group. The most common mechanism of injury was fall from height (FFH, 42.5%)> road traffic accident (RTA, 38.6%). RTA was more common among males and FFH among females (p < 0.0001). Most common location of injury was at thoracolumbar junction (D10-L2) (37.5%) followed by cervical spine (25.3%). 58.2% of patients had AO type A facture morphology followed by AO types C (36.1%) and AO type B (5.7%). Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) was seen in 82.1% spine trauma patients with statistically significant association with male gender (p- 0.045). Complete paralysis was seen maximum in patients with cervical spine injury (67.3%, p < 0.0001). Complete neurological deficit (ASIA grade A) was seen maximum in AO type C fracture morphology (74.25%, p < 0.001) followed by AO type A4 (29.6%). Seasonal distribution showed increased incidence during summer and monsoon season.

CONCLUSION

Young aged males in age group of 16-30 yrs were most commonly affected with fall from height as the most common mechanism of trauma. Association was found between gender and mechanism of injury (RTA in males and FFH in females). Most common vertebral injury level was thoracolumbar junction. AO type A was the most common fracture morphology. SCI seen in 82.1% of spine trauma. Statistically significant association was found between Complete SCI with Location of Injury (Cervical) and Fracture morphology (AO type C).

Evaluating Bone Loss with Bone Turnover Markers Following Acute Spinal Cord Injury

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

PURPOSE

To evaluate bone turnover markers (BTMs) in individuals with acute spinal cord injury (SCI) and to compare the results with those of healthy controls and postmenopausal females.

OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE

SCI significantly impacts bone health. Change in bone mineral density appears 6 months after SCI and rapid bone loss during the acute phase is often underestimated, resulting in osteoporosis and a high risk of sublesional fractures. However, few studies have evaluated BTMs in the Indian SCI population. Despite a high risk of fracture, there are no guidelines for the diagnosis, monitoring, and management of SCI-induced osteoporosis.

METHODS

Twenty patients within 1 month of traumatic SCI who had been admitted to a tertiary care rehabilitation center were included in this study. Serum BTMs, C telopeptide (CTX) as a bone resorption marker, and osteocalcin as a bone formation marker, were serially measured at baseline, and 3 and 6 months after SCI. BTMs of SCI patients were compared with those of a control group of age-matched healthy males, premenopausal females, and a vulnerable group of postmenopausal females.

RESULTS

BTMs were significantly elevated in patients with SCI, with maximum levels observed at the 3rd month of injury. At baseline, the bone resorption marker CTX was approximately 3 times higher in SCI patients than in the control male population and premenopausal females, and about double that of postmenopausal females. The rise in the bone formation marker was marginal in comparison to that of the bone resorption marker. BTMs were persistently elevated and did not reach the normative range until the 6th month of SCI.

CONCLUSIONS

Raised bone resorption markers in comparison to bone formation markers indicate hyper-resorption-related bone loss following acute SCI. Markedly elevated bone resorption markers in the SCI population, compared with those in control and vulnerable groups, emphasize the need for early bone health monitoring and management.

Evaluating Bone Loss with Bone Turnover Markers Following Acute Spinal Cord Injury

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

PURPOSE

To evaluate bone turnover markers (BTMs) in individuals with acute spinal cord injury (SCI) and to compare the results with those of healthy controls and postmenopausal females.

OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE

SCI significantly impacts bone health. Change in bone mineral density appears 6 months after SCI and rapid bone loss during the acute phase is often underestimated, resulting in osteoporosis and a high risk of sublesional fractures. However, few studies have evaluated BTMs in the Indian SCI population. Despite a high risk of fracture, there are no guidelines for the diagnosis, monitoring, and management of SCI-induced osteoporosis.

METHODS

Twenty patients within 1 month of traumatic SCI who had been admitted to a tertiary care rehabilitation center were included in this study. Serum BTMs, C telopeptide (CTX) as a bone resorption marker, and osteocalcin as a bone formation marker, were serially measured at baseline, and 3 and 6 months after SCI. BTMs of SCI patients were compared with those of a control group of age-matched healthy males, premenopausal females, and a vulnerable group of postmenopausal females.

RESULTS

BTMs were significantly elevated in patients with SCI, with maximum levels observed at the 3rd month of injury. At baseline, the bone resorption marker CTX was approximately 3 times higher in SCI patients than in the control male population and premenopausal females, and about double that of postmenopausal females. The rise in the bone formation marker was marginal in comparison to that of the bone resorption marker. BTMs were persistently elevated and did not reach the normative range until the 6th month of SCI.

CONCLUSIONS

Raised bone resorption markers in comparison to bone formation markers indicate hyper-resorption-related bone loss following acute SCI. Markedly elevated bone resorption markers in the SCI population, compared with those in control and vulnerable groups, emphasize the need for early bone health monitoring and management.

Frequency, characteristics and hospital outcomes of road traffic accidents and their victims in Guinea: a three-year retrospective study from 2015 to 2017

BACKGROUND

Road traffic accidents (RTA) remain a global public health concern in developing countries. The aim of the study was to document the frequency, characteristics and hospital outcomes of road traffic accidents in Guinea from 2015 to 2017.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using medical records of RTA victims from 20 hospitals and a cross-sectional study of RTA cases from eight police stations in eight districts in Guinea, West Africa. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, trends of RTA, a sequence of interrupted time-series models and a segmented ordinary least-squares (OLS) regression.

RESULTS

Police stations recorded 3,140 RTA over 3 years with an overall annual increase in RTA rates from 14.0 per 100,000 population in 2015, to 19.2 per 100,000 population in 2016 (37.1% annual increase), to 28.7 per 100,000 population in 2017 (49.5% annual increase). Overall, the injury rates in 2016 and 2017 were .05 per 100,000 population higher on average per month (95% CI: .03-.07). Deaths from RTA showed no statistical differences over the 3 years and no association of RTA trends with season was found. Overall, 27,751 RTA victims were admitted to emergency units, representing 22% of all hospitals admissions. Most victims were males (71%) and young (33%). Deaths represented 1.4% of all RTA victims. 90% of deaths occurred before or within 24 h of hospital admission. Factors associated with death were being male (p = .04), being a child under 15 years (p = .045) or an elderly person aged ≥65 years (p < .001), and having head injury or coma (p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

RTA rates in Guinea are increasing. There is a need for implementing multisectoral RTA prevention measures in Guinea.