Factors associated with the SCI event

External cause of injury

Figure 5: Incidence of persisting SCI from traumatic causes by external cause of injury (major groupings) and age group, Australia 1997/98 (counts)

The external cause of injury for persisting cases of SCI from traumatic causes is presented in Figure 5. It was evident that:

• Transport related injury accounted for fifty per cent of all persisting cases of SCI (n=140). Thirty-six per cent were motor vehicle occupants (n=99) and fifteen per cent were unprotected road users (n=41). Seventy-eight per cent (n=109) of the cases of transport related SCI were aged 15-44 years.
• Sixteen per cent (n=44) were from high falls (drop of 1 metre or more) and twelve per cent (n=32) were from low falls. Sixty-seven per cent (n=51) of these cases were in the age group 15-54 years.
• Eight per cent (n=22) were attributed to water-related accidents, including diving. About a third of these cases were aged 15-24 years (n=8).

Comparison of the pattern of external cause over recent years revealed the following:

• A substantial increase from 1996/97 to 1997/98 in transport related SCI in the age groups 15-24 years, 25-34 years and 35-44 years (up by 76%, from 62 cases to 109 cases, respectively). The increase in motor vehicle occupant SCI (80%, from 40 cases to 72 cases, respectively) was most evident for Western Australian residents and to a lesser extent New South Wales residents, but was also evident for Queensland and South Australia.
• Vehicle rollover was a more frequently reported cause of SCI for motor vehicle occupants in 1997/98 (49%) than 1996/97 (39%). The increase was most dramatic in Western Australia (13 cases reported in 1997/98 versus 2 cases in 1996/97). Increases were also noted in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria.
• The number of SCIs from water-related accidents in 1997/98 (n=22) remained higher than reported in 1995/96 (n=13) and was only slightly below the 1996/97 figure (n=25).

To more fully assess the nature, magnitude and statistical significance of any trends in SCI by external cause and State would require data over a longer time period. This will be undertaken once a complete series of data is available for all States from 1986.