Pickett et al. 2003
N=2385

Ontario, Canada

1994-1999
SCI in Ontario Trauma Registry

Males=73%
<20 years =6 (11%)
20-39 years= 29 (56%)
40-59 years=13 (25%)
≥60 years=4 (8%)

No details

Violence:
2.2% (n=52)

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%

Violence:
4.6 %
(n = 7)

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

Male= 71.6% 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

Violence:
2.4% (n=11)

Farmer et al. 1998
N=1817

United States

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

Male= 91.6%
Mean age=26.3 years
African 74.5% American, 12.6% Hispanic, 12.6% White 17.4%

19.8% quadriplegia complete
9.4% quadriplegia incomplete
46.1 % paraplegia complete
24.7% paraplegia incomplete

Gunshot wounds: 16.9% (n=307)

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%
Mean age of injury=28.8 years
White 65%
African American 35%

48% thoracic
43% complete
(all cases)
58% Frankel A
17% Frankel B
7% Frankel C
15% Frankel D

Gunshot wounds: 13.0% (n=21)

Fassett et al. 2007
N=412

Philadelphia, Pennsyl-vania,
USA

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

≥70 years old

ASIA  A ~ 45%
ASIA B ~ 13%
ASIA C ~ 15%
ASIA D ~ 24%

Gunshot wounds:  ~1% (n=4)

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
16-30 years =44.8%
31-45 years =25.9%
46-60 years= 12.1%
61-90 years= 12.1%

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

Gunshot wounds: 10% (n=6)

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)
Complete = 32.8%

Gunshot wounds: 10.5% (n=24)

Thurman et al. 1995
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
62 (27%) fatal
110 (49%) Frankel A/B/C
46 (21%) Frankel D
25 (11%) returned to full neurological function

Gunshot Wounds:
5.4% (n=12)

National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center 2000
N=19648

USA

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

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

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

Gunshot Wounds:  25.9%
(n = 5089)

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

Males= 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

Assault:
3.2% (n=5)

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
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%

Assault:
3%
(n=2)
 
 
Knife Wounds:
2%
(n = 1)

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.

Males=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

Violence:
15%
(n= 45)

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.

Males=80%
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%)

Violence:
12.8%
 (n = 48)

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=20
Paraplegia=51

Violence:
11.1%
(n = 71)

Carroll 1997
N=902

Arkansas,
USA

1980-1989
database from Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission (ASCC) registry

Males= 82%
Mean age=32 years
75% white, 22% black

Paraplegia 52%
Tetraplegia 44%

Violence:
15.3%
(n = 138)

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.

Males=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%

Violence
15.3%
(n = 3888)

National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center 2005
N=23,683

USA

2000-2005
National Spinal Cord Injury Database from 25 Model SCI Care Systems

Males=79.6%
Average age of injury=37.6 years
Caucasian62.9%
African American
22%
Hispanic12.6%

Incomplete tetraplegia (34.5%)
Complete tetraplegia (18.4%)
Incomplete paraplegia (17.5%)
Complete paraplegia (23.1%)

Violence:
13.8% (n=3268)

DeVivo et al. 1992
N=6563

USA

Admissions to Spinal Cord Injury Care Systems within 1 year of injury from:
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%

Violence:
12.8%
 (n = 228)

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%

Violence:
13.6%
(n = 189)

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%

Violence:
16.2%
(n = 232)

Nobunaga et al. 1999
N=25,054

USA

1973-1998
Admissions to a Model Spinal Cord Injury Care System within 365 days of injury.

Males=81.5%
Mean age=32.3±15.8 years.

Complete tetraplegia=17.4%
Incomplete tetraplegia=13.8%
Complete paraplegia=42.2%
Incomplete tetraplegia=26.4%

Violence:
18.9% (n=4735)

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

Complete tetraplegia = 22%
Incomplete tetraplegia = 29%
Complete paraplegia = 26%
Incomplete paraplegia = 23%

 
Violence:
2% (n=5)
 
 

Ahoniemi et al. 2008
N=1647

Finland

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

Males= 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

Violence:
2.7%
 (n = 44)

Dahlberg et al. 2005
N=152

Helsinki, Finland

January 1, 1999 cross-section date
18 years or older; 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

Violence:
4% (n=6)

Exner & Meinecke 1997
N= 22,212

Germany

1976-1996
All traumatic and non-traumatic SCI

72% male.

62% paraplegic
38% tetraplegic

Violence:
1% (n=239)

Pedersen et al. 1989
N=27

Greenland

1965-1986
Admissions to rehabilitation hospital in Hornback with traumatic SCI; Patients injured in Greenland.

Males=74%
Mean age=33.5 (14-50) years.

Complete tetraplegia=1
Incomplete paraplegia=2

Violence:
11.1% (n=3)

Caldana and 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

Gunshot wounds: 1% (n = 6)

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%)

Violence:
1.9%  (n=13)

Otom et al. 1997
N=151

Jordan

1988-1993
Royal Jordanian Rehabilitation Centre (RJRC) King Hussein Medical Centre (KHMC)

Males = 85.4% Average age of injury=33 years

Cervical=31.8% (n=48)
Thoraco-lumbar= 68.2% (n=103)
Frankel A= 53.6% (n=81)
Frankel B = 10% (n=15)
Frankel C =22.5% (n=34)
Frankel D= 13.9% (n=21)

Gunshot wound:
25.8% (n=39)
 
Knife Wounds:
2% (n=3)

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)

Assault:
3.1% (n=11)

Gur et al. 2005
N=539

South-eastern Anatolia, Turkey

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

Males = 77.2%
Average age of injury=30.62
(1-70) years
Civil servants: 22.6% (n=120)
Housewives: 20.2% (n=109)
Soldiers: 15.0% (n=79)

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)

Gunshot wounds:
21.3% (n=115)

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)

Gunshot wounds: 22.0% (n=372)
 
Knife Wounds: 2.01% (n=34)

Karamehmetaglu 1995
N=152

Istanbul, Turkey

1992
New patients with traumatic SCI, including pediatrics.

Males=75.7%
Mean age = 33 years. 72% of patients were under 40.

Tetraplegic n=50
Paraplegic n=102

Gunshot Wounds: 5.3%
(n=8)
Knife Wounds:
1.3% (n=2)
Violence:
7% (n=10)

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.

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

Gunshot Wounds: 1.9%
(n=11)
Knife Wounds:
3.3% (n=19)
Violence:
5.2% (n=30)

Chen et al. 1997
SCI=1,586

Taiwan

1992-1996
113 hospitals (11 medical centers, 50 regional general hospitals, 52 local general hospitals)

Males=75.0% Average age of injury=46.1 years

49.9% cervical
13.3% thoracic
34.6% lumbar
6.6% (n=105) died after treatment

Violence:
2.0% (n=31)

Chen et al. 1985
N=560

Taipei, Taiwan

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

86% male. 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

Violence:
2.7% (n=15)

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%)

Knife Wounds:
Complete tetraplegia=1
Incomplete tetraplegia=1
Complete paraplegia=1

Knife Wounds:
3.0% (n=3)

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.

Violence:
Tetraplegic n=0
Paraplegic n=4
ASIA D=3

Violence:
8.4%
 (n = 7)

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%)

Violence:
3.4%
(n = 5)

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

Violence:
1.6% (n=3)

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)

Males= 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

Gunshot
Wounds:
7.3% (n=34)
Assault:
1.78% (n=8)
Violence:
2.1% (n=10)

Olasode et al. 2006
N=71

Ile-Ife, Nigeria

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

Violence:
4.2% (n=3)

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%)

Violence:
16.6%
(n = 6)

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

Violence:
2.9% (n=2)

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

Gunshot Wounds: 36% (n=219)
Knife
Wounds:
20% (n=122)

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%)

Violence:
15% (n=20)

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.

Males= 80.6%
Mean age= 30.3 (range 6-56) years

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

Gunshot Wounds:
26.9% (n=29)

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%)

Violence:
2%
(n=3)

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 =
26 years
(range 16-41 years)

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

Assault:
6%
(n=2)