Epidemiologic Change of Patients With Spinal Cord Injury

• Published in: Annals of rehabilitation medicine Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 50 - 56
• Main Authors: Shin, Ji Cheol, Kim, Dae Hyun, Yu, Su Jin, Yang, Hea Eun, Yoon, Seo Yeon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 01.02.2013; 대한재활의학회
• Subjects: Original; 재활의학; Epidemiology; Spinal cord injuries
• ISSN: 2234-0645; 2234-0653
• DOI: 10.5535/arm.2013.37.1.50

To evaluate the epidemiologic change of patients with spinal cord injury who were admitted to a Rehabilitation Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, during 1987-1996 and 2004-2008. Medical records of 629 patients with spinal cord injury admitted to the Rehabilitation Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, from 2004 to 2008 were collected and reviewed retrospectively. The male-to-female ratio decreased to 2.86:1, the mean age at injury increased, nontraumatic etiology increased, traffic accident remained to be the most common in traumatic spinal cord injury, and falling increased significantly. Tumor was the most common etiology in nontraumatic spinal cord injury, tetraplegia and incomplete injuries occurred more than paraplegia and complete injuries, indwelling catheter was the most common voiding method, and the duration of hospitalization decreased. Many trends changed in epidemiology of spinal cord injury.