Overview of spinal cord injury from traumatic causes

The spinal units (SUs) reported three hundred and fourteen cases of SCI from traumatic causes, newly incident in 1997/98. The SU Directors confirmed complete enumeration of cases. However, registration information was not provided for 14 cases by one of the SUs in New South Wales. Of the remaining cases (n=300):

• 32 had no deficit, mostly admitted for suspected SCI or transient cord concussion;
• 4 were reported to have died on ward during treatment (mainly elderly patients, mean age of 76 years);

Given the rarity, at present, of neurological recovery from SCI, the remaining cases (n=264) were regarded as 'persisting cases'. It is noted, however, that at the time of production of this report, this agency has not been notified of complete discharge details for all newly incident cases, especially for those that remain on ward, and that the number of persisting cases is an estimate.

The persisting cases are an important group to monitor because they contribute to the prevalent SCI population whose health care and welfare needs require ongoing management and financial support. The size of the group reflects the cumulative effects of the rate of incidence of SCI, the patient response to retrieval and treatment, and the rate of survival to discharge. The annual incidence rate of persisting cases of SCI from traumatic causes has been selected as one of the indicators of the National Health Priority Area of Injury Prevention and Control³.