Trend differences in cervical spinal cord injuries before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery
• Neurology
• Public Health

Background:

• The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly altered societal behaviors and healthcare access.
• Understanding the impact of the pandemic on trauma epidemiology, specifically cervical spinal cord injuries (CSCI), is crucial for public health and emergency response planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the changes in the incidence and characteristics of cervical spinal cord injuries (CSCI) before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To compare patient demographics, injury mechanisms, and severity in CSCI cases admitted to a Japanese hospital during pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and pandemic (2020-2021) periods.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, cross-sectional study design was employed.
• Medical records of patients diagnosed with CSCI and transported within 24 hours of injury between January 2018 and December 2021 were analyzed.
• Clinical variables were compared between the pre-pandemic (2018-19) and pandemic (2020-21) cohorts.

Main Results:

• A total of 108 CSCI patients were identified; 57 before the pandemic and 51 after.
• The number of severe cases, defined by an Injury Severity Score (ISS) >16, significantly decreased after the COVID-19 pandemic (p < 0.05).
• Falls on level surfaces remained the most common injury cause, while bicycle-related traffic accidents showed a tendency to increase despite an overall decrease in traffic accidents.

Conclusions:

• The reduction in severe CSCI cases post-COVID-19 is likely associated with a decrease in high-energy trauma events.
• The observed decline in severe injuries correlates with a reduction in traffic accidents during the pandemic period.