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Published on: December 31, 2017
Epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury in New Zealand (2007-2016)
John Mitchell1, Joanne Nunnerley2, Chris Frampton3
1Principal Investigator, Orthopaedic Registrar, Middlemore Hospital.
Aim:
To investigate the epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in New Zealand over a 10-year period.
Methods:
Ambispective data of all new patients admitted to New Zealand's two spinal rehabilitation units between January 2007 and December 2016 (n=929) were collated. Variables assessed included age at injury, gender, ethnicity, date of injury, aetiology, length of hospital stay, injury level, neurological status on discharge and discharge destination.
Results:
The incidence of TSCI averaged 22 (95% CI 21-24) per million, increasing 6% a year. The average incidence for Māori (29 per million people (95% CI 25-34)) was 1.8 times higher than New Zealand European (16 per million people (95% CI 15-18)), and show an increase of 14% a year. The median age of TSCI increased from 43 to 48 years. Overall, falls (32%), transport (32%) and sports (22%) were the most common causes of TSCI. Cervical TSCI (54%) were most common, particularly in older adults (70% over 75 years) and Māori (61%) and Pacific Island (72%) patients. Surgical rates remained stable (77%) but length of stay in hospital decreased over the study period.
Conclusions:
The demographic of TSCI is changing in New Zealand. The median age of patients is increasing, as is the incidence, particularly for women, older adults and Māori patients.
