Dryden et al. 2003
N=450

Alberta, Canada

1997-2000
Data from the Alberta Ministry of Health and Wellness, records from the Alberta Trauma Registry, and death certificates from the Office of the Medical Examiner

71.6% male Median age of injury=35.0 years
 

61.5% (n=277) cervical
17.3% (n=78) thoracic
17.1% (n=77) lumbar/sacral/
cauda equina
4.0% (n=18) unspecified

MVC:
56.4% (n=254)

Pickett et al. 2003
N=2385
 

Ontario, Canada

1994-1999
SCI in Ontario Trauma Registry

Males=69%
<20 years =17%
20-39
years= 44%
40-59 years=23%
≥60 years=16
 

Not given.

MVC:
42.8% (n=1021)
 
Automobile
=75%
Motorcycle
=7%
Bicycle=3%
Pedestrian
=6%
Other=10%

Pickett et al. 2006
N=151

London, Ontario,
Canada

1997-2006
Admissions to hospital in London, Ontario with SCI

Men=74.2%
Mean age = 42.2 ± 20.9 (9-96) years
Mortality=12 (8%)

Cervical=75%
Thoracic= 10%
Lumbar=9%
Junctional=6%
Complete=35% Incomplete=65%

MVC:
35.1% (n=53)
 
Other type of vehicle
11.9% (n=18)

Tator et al. 1993
N=201

Toronto,
Canada

1974-1981
First 220 admissions to Acute Spinal Cord Injury Unit in Toronto.
Exclusion Criteria: Admissions >30 days after injury; spinal injuries without cord involvement; nerve root involvement only; penetrating injuries; injuries below L2; Patients who died on scene or upon arrival.

Males=79.6%
Mean age=34.5 years
Median age=27.0 years

Cervical=63.2%, Thoracic=16.9%, Thoraco-lumbar=19.9%
Complete=46.2%, Incomplete=53.8%

MVC:
40.8% (n=82)

Krassioukov et al. 2003
N=58

Toronto, Canada

1998-2000
Admissions to hospital in Toronto with traumatic SCI.
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients admitted with ASIA E.

Males=87%
Ages 17-59 years:
Mean age=38.7 (17-56) years

ASIA A and B=30%
ASIA C and D=70%

MVC:
31%
(n=18)

Acton et al. 1993
N=644

Arkansas, United States

1980-1989
Arkansas residents in Arkansas State Spinal Cord Commission registry.
Exclusion Criteria:
Lesions caused by degenerative disease; people who died at scene.

Males=80%
Mean age males=32.4 years
Mean age females=35.4 years
 

Tetraplegia=124
Paraplegia=181
 

MVC:
80% (n=515)
 
Motorcycle= 11% (n=71)
Off road vehicles= 4% (n=26)
Bicycles= 3% (n=19)
Pedestrian = 2% (n=13)

Calancie et al. 2005
N=229
 

Dade County, Florida, USA

Acute traumatic spine and/or spinal cord injury admitted to Jackson Memorial Hospital
 

Male = 74.6%
 
Average age at injury=40.0±17.5 years
15 were children

ASIA A = 32.8% (75)
ASIA B = 4.8% (11)
ASIA C = 24.0% (55)
ASIA D = 31.5% (72)
ASIA E = 7.0% (7.4)
Fractures:
Cervical = 62%
T1-T10 = 15% (35)
T11-L4 = 19% (44)
Non-fractures:
Cervical = 3% (7)
Complete = 32.8%

MVC:
43.2% (n=99),
 
Pedestrians hit by car=3.9% (n=9),
Motorcycle=1.7% (n=4),
 
 

Burke et al. 2001
N=161

Kentucky and Indiana counties, USA

1993-1998
University of Louisville Hospital SCI Trauma Registry and patient medical records

Male=75% male
Mean age of injury=34.0 years
59.5% single
29.4% married
85.5% White
14.5% African American

56.5% cervical
28% complete
(all cases)
58% Frankel A
17% Frankel B
7% Frankel C
15% Frankel D

MVC:
54.7% (n=88)

Goebert et al. 1991
N=59

Hawaii, USA

1987-1989
Traumatic injury
Patient at the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific

Male=84.7%
Mean age=20.2 years
0-15years=5.2%
16-30 years=44.8%
31-45 years=25.9%
46-60 years= 12.1%
61-90 years=12.1%

High Quad (C1-4)=16.2%
Low Quad (C5-8)=45.9%
High Thoracic (T1-6)=18.9%
Low Thoracic (T7-12)=10.8%
Lumbar (L1-5)=8.1%
Frankel Grades:
Complete (A)=50.8%
Motor functional (D)=35.6%

MVC:
37.9% (n=22)
 
automobile =81.1% of motorcycle =13.6%, bicycle =4.5%
 
 
 

Price et al. 1994
N=376

Oklahoma,
United States

1988-1990
SCI cases in Oklahoma statewide multilevel surveillance system
Exclusion Criteria:
Non Oklahoma residents; patients who died at scene; injuries to nerve roots or spinal plexus.

Male= 80%
<15 years=12 (3%)
15-19 years=66 (18%)
20-29 years=110 (29%)
30-59 years=145 (39%)
≥60 years =43 (11%)
Mortality=30 (8%)

Complete tetraplegia=55 (15%),
Incomplete tetraplegia=157 (42%)
Complete paraplegia=59 (16%),
Incomplete paraplegia=105 (28%)
 

MVC:
47.9% (n=180)

Fassett et al. 2007
N=412

Philadelphia, Pennsyl-vania,
USA

1978-2005
Geriatric patients treated in Delaware Valley Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

≥70 years old. No further demographics given

High quadriplegic  (C4 and above)=42%
Paraplegic=22%
 
ASIA  A ~ 45%
ASIA B ~ 13%
ASIA C ~ 15%
ASIA D ~ 24%

 
MVC:
13% (n=54)
 
Pedes-trian:
2% (n=8)

Griffin & Opitz 1985
N=154

Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA

1935-1981
Medical records-linkage system of
the Rochester Project at the Mayo Clinic, periodic multi-centre surveys

Male= 72% 153 White, 1 Black

56.5% (n=87) cervical
31.8% (n=49) thoracic
9.1% (n=14) lumbar
2.6% (n=4) sacral

MVC:
69.8% (n=106)

Macciocchi et al. 2008
N= 298

South-eastern USA

2004-2005
All patients admitted for traumatic SCI between the ages 16-59. Excluded if unable to speak English.

Male=79% Mean age =28.7±10.1 years.
74% of all eligible patients.

C1-4 ASIA A-C, n=9
C1-4 ASIA D, n=5
C5-8 ASIA A-C, n=30
C5-8 ASIA D, n=6
T1-8 ASIA A-C, n=26
T1-8 ASIA D, n=2
T9-12 ASIA A-C, n=15
T9-12ASIA D, n=3
L1-S3 ASIA A-C, n=5

MVC:
63% (n=188)

Thurman et al. 1994
N=223

Utah, USA

1989-1991
Utah residents with SCI in Statewide reporting system of the Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology.

Male= 76%  Median age=29 years
 
 

128 (57%) tetraplegia
95 (43%) paraplegia
41 (18%) fatal
21 (9%) died before hospital admission
110 (49%) Frankel A/B/C
46 (21%) Frankel D
25 (11%) returned to full neurological function

MVC=
49.3%
(n=110)

Woodruff & Baron 1994
N=150

West Virginia, USA

1985-1988
Data collected during the West Virginia Spinal Cord Injury Registry, includes only injured patients surviving until hospitalization

Male= 82%
Majority of individuals were between 15-24.

57% tetraplegia
43% paraplegia

MVC:
57%
 (n=86)

Farmer et al. 1998
N=1817

United States

1979-1993
Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center of Delaware Valley (RSCICDV)

Male=78.7%
Mean age=37.6 years
72.2% White, 23.5% African American, 2.5% Hispanic
35.9% married
16% unemployed

62.4% cervical
26.8% thoracic
10.8% lumbosacral
40.9% complete
59.1% incomplete
25.1 % quadriplegia complete
36.7% quadriplegia incomplete 15.8% paraplegia complete
21.5% paraplegia incomplete

MVC:
29.9% (n=543)

National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center 2008
N=25,415

USA

1973-2008
Residents of the US who have sustained traumatic SCI. Data from Model SCI Care Systems captures approx 13% of all new SCI cases in the U.S.

Male=77.8% (2000-2008)
Average age = 39.5 years (2005-2008)
 
 

2000-2008
Incomplete tetraplegia: 34.1%
Complete paraplegia: 23.0%
Complete tetraplegia:18.3%
Incomplete paraplegia: 18.5%

MVC:
42% (n=10,674)

National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) 2000
N=19648

USA

1973 -1990’s
24 federally funded Model SCI Care Systems and National SCI Database

Male= 81.7% Mean age at injury=31.8 years; 55% within 16-30 years old,

Tetraplegia = 51.7%
Paraplegia = 46.7 %
Complete Tetraplegia = 18.5%
Incomplete tetraplegia =   29.5%
Complete Paraplegia = 27.9%
Incomplete Paraplegia = 21.3%

MVC:
37.4%
(n= 7348)
 

DeVivo et al. 1992
N=6563

United States

Admissions to Spinal Cord Injury Care Systems within 1 year of injury from:
1973-1977

N=1955
Males=81.9%
Mean age=28.0 years
 

Frankel grade at discharge:
Complete=56.4%
Sensory=9.7%
Motor nonfunctional=9.0%
Motor functional=24.1%
Recovered=0.8%

MVC:
42.5%
 

1978-1980

N=1784
Males=82.4%
Mean age=28.4 years
 

Frankel grade at discharge:
Complete=51.8%
Sensory=13.7%
Motor nonfunctional=7.2%
Motor functional=25.9%
Recovered=1.4%

MVC:
48.0%

1981-1983

N=1391
Males=82.7%
Mean age=30.5 years
 

Frankel grade at discharge:
Complete=57.2%
Sensory=11.7%
Motor nonfunctional=7.8%
Motor functional=22.5%
Recovered=0.8%

MVC:
48.8%

1984-1986

N=1433
Males=84.5%
Mean age=31.2 years
 

Frankel grade at discharge:
Complete=48.6%
Sensory=16.2%
Motor nonfunctional=11.0%
Motor functional=23.5%
Recovered=0.6%

MVC:
44.9%

Stavrev et al. 1994
N=980

Plovdiv and Plovdiv region,
Bulgaria

1983-1992
Treatment for SCI at 2 clinics in Plovdiv region

Males=72%
≤20 years=82 (8%)
21-40 years=387 (40%)
41-60 years=298 (30%)
61-70 years=137 (14%)
>70 years=76 (8%)
Mortality=72 (7%)

Cervical=206 (21%)
Thoracic (>T7) =275 (28%)
Lumbar=399, (41%)
Other=100 (10%)
Neurological deficit=409 (42%)
No neurological deficit=572 (58%)

MVC:
37.4% (n=367)

Ahoniemi et al. 2008
N=1647

Finland

1976-2005
Register survey;
Medical records from registers of Käpylä Rehabilitation Centre

Male= 83%
Mean age of injury (M/F):
1976-1985: 34.7/35.8
1986-1995: 36.7/38.3
1996-2005: 42.4/40.4

50.6% tetraplegia
49.4% paraplegia

MVC:
39.5% (n=650)

Dahlberg et al. 2005
N=152

Helsinki, Finland

January 1, 1999 cross-section date
Adult citizens (18 years or more) of Helsinki who had permanent sensory or motor deficits because of traumatic SCI (ASIA A–D). ASIA-E cases were excluded.

Males = 76%
Average age of injury=47.9 years
 

Data only for 121 subjects:
46% (n=56) tetraplegia
54% (n=65) paraplegia
57% (n=69) incomplete
43% (n=52) complete

MVC:
35%
(n=53)

Ravaud et al. 2000
N=1668

France

1995-1996
Self-administered
questionnaire survey at 35 specialized Rehabilitation Centres

Males (73%)
Mean age of injury=30.5 years

7.4% C1-C2
16.4% C3
26.3% C4
28.5% C5
18.6% C6
2.5% C7-C8
54% complete

MVC:
57.9% (n=959)

Exner & Meinecke 1997
N= 22,212

Germany

1976-1996
All traumatic and non-traumatic SCI

72% male.

62% paraplegic
38% tetraplegic

MVC:
35% (n=7774)

Aung & Masry 1997
N=219

Great Britain

1985-1988
New traumatic admissions to the Midlands Centre for SCI

Male=79%;
Average age of 35.5 years.
Female=21%;
Average age of 44.2 years.

Cervical n=116
Thoracic n=73
Lumbar n=30

MVC:
50%
(n=110)

Caldana & Lucca 1998
N=127

Veneto, Italy

1994-1995
New cases of traumatic spinal cord injury and non-traumatic spinal cord disease treated in regional hospitals (small hospitals excluded)

Male = 83.5%; average age of 39.8 years
 
Female = 16.5%; average age of36 years

Cervical=62 (21 were complete)
Thoracic=29(25)
Thoracolumbar (T12-L1)=18(11)
Caudal=14(3)
Unidentified=1

MVC:
53%
(n=306)
 
Other road accidents=19% (n=110) (Motorbike=7,
Moped=7,
Bicycle=3,
Pedestrian=2)

Pagliacci et al. 2003
N=684

Italy

1997-1999
Rehabilitation admissions to 32 institutions in Italy with traumatic SCI.
 

Males = 80% Mean age=38.5 (11-94) years.

ASIA Scores:
A=346 (50%)
B=72 (10%)
C=149 (22%)
D=94 (14%)
E=12 (2%)

MVC:
53.8%
(n=684)

Biering-Sorensen et al. 1990
N=268

Kingdom of Denmark
(Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands)

January 1975- December 1984
Admission to national specialized rehabilitation hospitals

Male=76.9%
40% within 15-24 years old

268 traumatic lesions
Cervical = 136
Thoracic = 76
Lumbar = 56
Complete tetraplegia = 22%
Incomplete tetraplegia = 29%
Complete paraplegia = 26%
Incomplete paraplegia = 23%

MVC:
47%
 (n=125)

van Asbeck et al. 2000
N=126
(specific data for 113)

Netherlands

1994
Patients with SCI in National Registration system. Further analysis occurred only for cases in which medical records were obtained
Exclusion Criteria:
Spinal contusions with no or temporary neurological symptoms.

Males=77%
<20 years=15 (13%)
21-30 years=28 (25%)
31-60 years=36 (32%)
>61=34 (30%)
Mortality=18 (16%)

Complete tetraplegia=26 (23%)
Incomplete tetraplegia=39 (34%)
Complete paraplegia=29 (26%)
Incomplete paraplegia=19 (17%)
 

MVC:
31.0% (n=35)
 

Martins et al. 1998
N= 398

Portugal

1989-1992
2 hospitals that treat all SCI in the central region of Portugal. Including deaths due to SCI and paediatric cases. Cases without neurological lesion, rehospitalization and vertebral lesions were excluded.

Male=77% Average age = 50.53±21.85 years

Complete n=220
Incomplete n=176
 
Deaths = 223

MVC:
57.3% (n=228)

Soopramanien 1994
N=412
(SCI=270)

Bucharest, Romania

1992-1993
SCI patients admitted to Dr Gh. Marinescu Hospital

Males=77%
37.6% labourer
8.7% farmer
18.2% retired

158 cervical
81 thoracic
36 lumbar
47% incomplete
Frankel grade A n=134
Frankel grade B n=24
Frankel grade C n=25
Frankel grade D n=73
Frankel grade E n=150

MVC:
13%
 (n=54)

Garcia-Reneses et al. 1991
N=1010

Spain

1984-1985
Every traumatic and non traumatic SCI  patient in specialized Spanish hospitals

Male=72.4%. Mean age = 41.8 ± 1.2 years.

Sensory-motor incomplete SCI = 49%
Complete SCI= 38%

MVC:
52.2% (n=527)

Levi et al. 1995
N=353

Stockholm, Sweden

1991-1994
Survey of the regional Stockholm SCI population

Males=81%  Average age of injury=31 (3-77) years
 

Cervical 41.6% (n=147)
Thoracic 36.0% (n=127)
Lumbar 14.7% (n=52)
Sacral 1.4% (n=5)
Complete 39.4% (n=139)
Incomplete 59.5% (n=210)

MVC:
45.6% (n=161)

Gur et al. 2005
N=539

South-eastern Anatolia, Turkey

1990-1999
4 hospitals that were major referral centers for trauma

Male= 77.2%
Average age of injury=30.62
(1-70) years

Incomplete paraplegia 29.3% (n=158)
Complete paraplegia 45.1% (n=243)
Incomplete tetraplegia 13.7% (n=74)
Complete tetraplegia 13.9% (n=75)
Cervical: 25.4% (n=137)
Thoracic: 36.7% (n=198)
Lumbar: 34.0% (n=183)

MVC:
37.1% (n=200)

Karacan et al. 2000
N=581

Turkey

1992
Nation-wide survey of SCI admissions to medical institutions.
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients who died before hospitalization.

Males=71%
Mean age=35.5±15.1 years.
Females=166 (29%)
 

Cervical=31.7%
Thoracic=26.6%
Lumbar=25.1%
Tetraplegia=87 (32%)
Paraplegia=394 (68%)

MVC:
48.8% (n=283)
 

Karameh-metaglu 1995
N=152

Istanbul, Turkey

1992
New patients with traumatic SCI, including pediatrics.

Males=75.6% Mean age = 33 years. 72% of patients were under 40.

Tetraplegic n=50
Paraplegic n=102

MVC:
41%
(n=62)

Dincer et al. 1992
N=1,694

Turkey

1974-1985
SCI patients admitted to Ankara Rehabilitation Centre

Males = 75.7% Average age of injury=26.8 (1-70) years
Agricultural workers=
19.8% (n=336)
Housewives= 19.9% (n=338)
Private industry workers =
19.5% (n=330)

Complete paraplegia 85.1% (n=1442)
Incomplete paraplegia 6.9% (n=116)
Complete tetraplegia
4.8% (n=82)
Incomplete tetraplegia 3.2% (n=54)

MVC:
35.4% (n=600)

Singh et al. 2003
N=483

Haryana, India

2000-2001
Accident and emergency services and department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation of Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak.

Male=74.7% male
Mean age at injury=35.4 years

164 tetraplegia
283 paraplegia

MVC:
34.8% (n=168)
 

Catz et al. 2002
N=250

Israel

1959-1992
Traumatic SCI, admitted to the Loewenstein Rehabilitation Center, the major referral center for rehabilitation medicine in Israel.

Males=75.6%
 Mean age = 34.5 years (range 6-83 years).

High cervical 7.6%
low cervical 28.8%
thoracic 32.4%
lumbar 31.2%

MVC:
32.8% (n=82)

Shingu et al. 1994
N=3465

Japan

1990
Survey of nationwide institutions assumed to accept SCI patients;
Exclusion criteria:
Traumatic cervical syndrome cases and extradural nerve root; Patients only receiving outpatient services in this year or who obtained injury abroad

Male=81.2%
Mean age=44.1 years
 
 
 

Cervical=1218 (79%)
Below cervical=328 (21%)
Unknown=1

MVC:
44.6% (n=1545)

Shingu et al. 1995
N=9752

Japan

1990-1992
Survey of nationwide institutions assumed to accept SCI patients.
Exclusion criteria:
Patients only receiving outpatient services in this period

Males=80.4%
Mean age=48.6±19.1 (0.92-96) years.
 

Frankel levels:
A=2518 (25.8%)
B=1208 (12.4%)
C=1984 (20.3%)
D=1761 (18.1%)
E=2242 (23.0%)
Unknown=39 (0.4%)
Cervical=7317 (75.0%)
Below cervical=2408 (24.7%)
Unknown=27 (0.3%)
Complete=61.1%

MVC:
43.7% (n=4261)

Shrestha et al. 2007
N=149

Eastern region,
Nepal

2001-2004
Admission to hospital in Dharan with cervical spinal injury.

Males=80%
Mean age=40 (6-88) years
Mortality=6 (4%)

Frankel levels:
A=54 (36%)
B=20 (13%)
C=22 (15%)
D=19 (13%)
E=34 (23%)

MVC:
21.5%
 (n=32)

Lakhey et al. 2005
N=233

Dharan, Nepal

May 1997- April 2001
Orthopaedic ward of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences

Male=72.5%
 <20years old=26 individuals (11.1%),
20-30yrs=59 (25.3%),
31-40yrs=49 (21.0%),
41-50yrs=37 (15.9%),
>50yrs=62 (26.6%)

cervical = 88 (37.8%)
dorsal = 70 (30.0%)
lumbar = 72 (30.9%)
none bony =  3 (1.3%)
 
complete = 46.8%

MVC:
6.9%
(n = 16)

Silberstein & Rabinovich 1995
N=196

Novosibirsk,
Russia

1989-1993
All in patients with SCI admitted to the Department of SCI. Nerve root or plexus injury was excluded.

Males=93.4% Mean age =34.7 years.

Cervical spine
C1-2 n=15
C3-7 n=81
Thoracic T1-12 n=54
Lumbar L1-5 n=46

MVC:
25.1%
(n=49)

Chen et al. 1985
N=560

Taipei, Taiwan

1978-1981
All record from general hospitals in Taipei. Included all spinal cord lesions with or without vertebral injury.

Males=86% Mean age = 35.9 (range 20-49) years.

Incomplete Paraplegia n=118
Complete paraplegia n=180
Incomplete Tetraplegia n=117
Complete Tetraplegia n=145
Death n=31

MVC:
44.5% (n=249)

Lan et al. 1993
N=99

Hualien county, Taiwan

1986-1990
Treatment of traumatic SCI in 4 hospitals in Hualien county.
Exclusion Criteria:
People who died before hospitalization; nontraumatic SCI; patients with transient paralysis; non residents of Hualien.

Males=80%
Mean age (males)=44 years
Mean age (females)=46 years
Mortality=10 (10%)

Complete tetraplegia =5
Incomplete tetraplegia = 5
Complete paraplegia =6
Incomplete paraplegia = 7

MVC:
61.6%
(n= 61)

Kuptnirat-saikul 2003
N=83

Thailand

1997-2000
All SCI patients admitted to Spinal Unit, Siriraj Hospital, Nagkok.

Males=79.5%
Average age =32.3 ±11.7 years.

Tetraplegic n=19
Paraplegic n=18
ASIA D=25

MVC:
75.7%
 (n=63)

Olasode et al. 2006
N=71

Ile-Ife, Nigeria, Africa

All traumatic SCI within an 18 month period were included. Only patients with significant craniocerebral injuries were excluded.

Males=66.7%
Age range=12-80 years

tetraplegic n=39
paraplegic n=13
recovered with no residual disability n=14
died n=5

MVC:
89%
(n=63)

Umaru & Ahidjo 2005
N=36

Maiduguri,
Nigeria

1998-2002
Admissions to hospital in Maiduguri with SCI.
Exclusion Criteria:
Cases with inadequate information

Males=83%
Mean age=34.3±3 (13-55) years
Mortality=3 (8%)

Cervical=14 (39%)
Thoracic=10 (28%)
Thoracolumbar=10 (28%)
Lumbar=2 (6%)
Complete=20 (56%)
Incomplete=16 (44%)

MVC:
61.1%
 (n=22)

Obalum et al. 2009
N=468

Lagos, Nigeria

1992-2006
Registrars at the emergency room and wards from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (receives the majority of SCI patients in Lagos)

Male=70.1% 66.2% were ages 40 years and below. Peak age incidence = 21-30 years.

ASIA A n=230
ASIA B n=45
ASIA C n=36
ASIA D n=41
ASIA E n= 34
Death n=82
Lumbar n=278
Cervical n=142
Thoracic n=48

MVC:
77.4% (n=362)

Igun et al. 1999
N=68

Plateau State, Nigeria

1984-1997
Radiologically confirmed diagnosis of spinal cord injury.

Males=91.2% Mean age = 30 years.

Cervico-thoracic n=32
Cervico-thoracic n=36
Deaths n=18

MVC:
51.5% (n=35)

Levy et al. 1998
N=136

Zimbabwe

1988-1994
Admissions to National Rehabilitation Centre with traumatic SCI.

Males=89%
Majority were between 20 and 49 years of age

Cervical=69 (51%)
Below Cervical=67 (49%)

MVC:
50%
(n=68)

Hart et al. 1994
N=616

South Africa

1988-1993
All records of SCI from the Natalspruit Spinal Rehabilitation Unit

Males=80% Males between 15-40 made up the majority of patients

Complete n=404
Incomplete n=212
 
Cervical spine n=155
Upper thoracic n=135
Lower thoracic n=249
Lumbar spine n=74

MVC:
25%
(n=154)

da Paz et al. 1992
N=1255
(SCI=108)

Brazil

1988
36 public hospitals from 7 Brazilian capitals (represents 6.2% of all hospitals and 9.2% of the total hospital bed capacity.

Male=80.6%
Mean age= 30.3 (range 6-56) years
5.6% high education

94 (87.0%) complete
61 (64.9%) paraplegia
33 (35.1%) quadriplegia

MVC:
41.7% (n=45)

Ring et al. 1986
N=202

New South Wales, Australia

1977-1978
Admissions to New South Wales hospitals with spinal injury; death certificates that involved spinal injury. 99% of cases had neurological involvement.

Males= 81%
≤1 years=2 (1%)
2-14 years=13 (6%)
15-24 years=84 (42%)
25-44 years=58 (29%)
45-64 years=30 (15%)
≥65 years=15 (7%)
Mortality=69 (39%)

Glasgow Outcome Scale:
Severe disability=98(49%)
Moderate disability=19 (9%)
Good recovery=13 (6%)
Not recorded=3 (1%)

MVC:
65.3% (n=132)

O’Connor 2002
N=265

Australia

1998-1999
Australian Spinal Cord Injury Register (ASCIR) for persons 15 years and older. All adult SCI cases are reported to the ASCIR Transient neural deficits were excluded.

Male= 76 %
No other demographics given

C4 n=47
C5 n=45
C6 n=22
L1 n=30
T12 n=17
Incomplete tetraplegia n=101
Incomplete paraplegia n=64
Complete tetraplegia n=51
Complete paraplegia n=48

MVC:
43%
(n=114)

Maharaj 1996
N=75

Fiji

1985-1994
Medical records of spinal cord paralysis patients admitted to the Medical Rehabilitation Unit at Tamavua Hospital

Male=87%
Mean age=38.3 (6-76) years
Fijian=60%
Indian=35%
Employed
=47%
Unemployed
=41%

40 (53%) tetraplegia
35 (47%) paraplegia
46 (61%) complete
29 (39%) incomplete

MVC:
25.3%
 (n=19)

Gee & Sinha 1982
N=36

Papua New Guinea

1978-1981
Traumatic injury
Patients that stayed in Port Moresby, Lae and Manding hospitals

Male = 88%
Mean age = 26years
(range 16-41 years)

Cervical = 22%
Upper thoracic  = 11%
Thoraco-lumbar = 28%
Lumbar = 39%

MVC:
34 %
 (n=12)

Dixon et al. 1993
N=164

New Zealand

1988
SCI cases in Health Services Statistics files.

Males=73.2%
Males aged 15-29 years=46%

C1-C4=49 (30%)
C5-C7=30 (18%)
T1-T6=19 (12%)
T7-T12-19 (12%)

MVC:
54%
(n=89)