===== Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: Epidemiology ===== ==== Definition ==== Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is damage to the spinal cord caused by external physical impact, leading to partial or complete loss of motor, sensory, and/or autonomic function below the level of injury. ==== Global Incidence ==== * **Worldwide incidence**: 10–80 cases per million population per year. * **Estimated annual cases**: 250,000–500,000 globally (WHO). * **Data limitations**: Underreporting is frequent, especially in low- and middle-income countries. ==== Age and Gender Distribution ==== * **Bimodal age peak**: - Young adults (15–29 years) - Older adults (65+), often related to falls * **Gender**: Predominantly affects males (~80% of cases) ==== Causes ==== * **Road traffic accidents (RTAs)**: 35–50% * **Falls**: 20–30%, increasing in elderly populations * **Violence (gunshot, stab wounds)**: 10–15% * **Sports and recreation**: 5–10% (e.g., diving, rugby, skiing) ==== Level and Severity of Injury ==== * **Cervical injuries**: Most frequent; especially C5–C7 * **Thoracic injuries**: Higher likelihood of complete injury * **Lumbar injuries**: Often involve cauda equina syndrome * **Severity**: - Complete (ASIA A): ~30–40% - Incomplete (ASIA B–D): ~60–70% ==== Mortality and Disability ==== * **High early mortality** in cervical and high thoracic injuries * **Leading cause of permanent disability** in young adults * **Life expectancy**: - Reduced compared to the general population - Improving with advances in acute and rehabilitative care ==== Epidemiological Trends ==== * **Aging population**: Rise in fall-related TSCI among the elderly * **Prevention efforts**: Decline in RTA-related TSCI in high-income countries * **Technological advances**: Better prehospital care and surgical management ---- [[traumatic_spinal_cord_injury|← Back to TSCI main article]]