Mudasir Habib, Muzefer Ahmad Ahanger, Tarooq Ahmad Reshi, Abdul Rashid Bhat,Shahnawaz Mansoor, Mushtaq Ahmad Rather
INTRODUCTION: Spinal cord injury is a devastating condition that affects all regions of the world. A high incidence of spinal cord injury in younger populations has resulted in enormous financial and physical costs for individual and the society. AIMS: The aim of this study was to know the epidemiological and clinico-radiological features of spinal trauma, analyse the diagnostic tools and to reveal the outcome of spinal trauma. METHODS: This was a retroprospective hospital based study. All patients of spinal trauma admitted in the department of Neurosurgery SKIMS, Srinagar from September 2003 to October 2013 were taken up for the study. RESULTS: A total of 667 cases of spinal trauma were reported from September 2003 to October 2013. 526 were males and 141 were females. The most prevalent age group was 21-40 years (49.93%). Most common mode of injury was fall from height (66.41%), followed by Road traffic accidents (28.63%). 38.08% had cervical, 31.64% had dorsal and 30.28% had lumbar spine injury. Trauma was most common in the month of August and was mainly due to fall from height. 69.61% patients were managed surgically and 30.58% conservatively. 41.22% patients showed improvement in neurological grade, 20.68% made complete recovery, 26.53% showed no neurological improvement. CONCLUSION: Spinal trauma occurs most commonly in young productive age group. Fall from height is the most common cause of injury. CT and MRI are complementary to each other in diagnosis. Initial neurological grade is most important prognostic factor.
