The female paraplegic: a statistical survey

From November 1969 to December 1979, 1234 patients with spinal cord lesions were treated at the Henry Gabrielle Hospital. Of these 386 were from medical causes and 848 from trauma. The computer study of these cases brings out statistical differences between the sexes as the overall incidence in females is 30 per cent and even lower if one considers traumatic cases only 22.4 per cent out of the 848 cases. Furthermore, the average female paraplegic is two years older and it was noted that more females are married. In females the causes of spinal cord injuries are more frequently car accidents and suicidal falls from high places, whereas in males the causes are related to direct blows, that is sport injuries, motorcycle accidents and industrial falls. Clinical symptoms are similar in the two groups with the exception that there is less heterotopic ossifications and fewer bladder stones in females. The duration of hospitalisation is shorter in females. A well equipped household is more important for the handicapped females than for males.