The epidemiology of spinal fractures: A nationwide data-based study in Iran

Blunt trauma is a physical injury to a part of the body, mainly caused by road accidents, direct blows, attacks, sports injuries, and falls in elderly people. Spinal fractures are observed only in a small percentage of injured patients. Accordingly, the present study was conducted on collected data between 2018 and 2022 to determine the frequency of spinal fractures in blunt trauma in Iran while also considering the mechanism of injury as a secondary outcome of interest.

In this retrospective study, blunt trauma patients with spinal fractures, regardless of age were included by the census sampling method. Data were obtained from the National Trauma Registry of Iran. Means and standard deviations were used for continuous variables, and the chi-square test was used to assess the relationship between the variables.

Among 25,986 cases of all-cause trauma patients, 1,167 cases (4.5%) of blunt trauma and spinal fracture were included in the study. Gender, the severity of injury, and the cause of trauma showed a significant difference among different age groups (p < 0.05). Significant differences were found in the injury mechanisms across various spine regions (p < 0.05). The majority of patients (68.2%) had lumbar spinal fractures. Road traffic collisions were the most common cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for 58.3% of cases, followed by falls (36.1%). The injury severity score was higher in younger patients (under 18 years old), with a mean of 4.4 ± 3.5, and in patients with cervical injuries. The majority of injuries occurred in the lumbar area (68.2%), followed by the thoracic area. Furthermore, notable variations existed in Emergency Room (ER) stay duration, overall hospitalization, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay duration, and injury severity levels, all influenced by the spinal regions (p < 0.05). Distinctively, ICU stay durations and ER stay duration showed significant differences, particularly in relation to injuries in the lumbar and thoracic regions (p < 0.05).

According to the results of the present study, trauma is more severe, and cervical injuries are more common in young people, which is a critical finding that underscores the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the severity of trauma in this age group. Additionally, the majority of cervical injuries occurred in young people, which is a particularly concerning finding given the potential for long-term disability and impact on quality of life. Our findings suggest that strategies to reduce cervical injuries, such as speed control, seat belt use, and phone-free driving, are crucial interventions for mitigating the severity of trauma and promoting patient outcomes in young people.