Aging and spinal cord injury: External causes of injury and implications for prevention

Model System:

Reference Type:

Accession No.:

Journal:

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Study documents the causes and usual circumstances surrounding the occurrence of spinal cord injury (SCI) among the elderly. Data on individuals injured in 2005 or later were retrieved from the National SCI Database. Demographics, injury profiles, and external causes of injury were compared between the study group (1,079 adults over 60 years of age) and a reference group (3,579 adults aged 16-45 years) using chi square and Student t tests. Among the elderly, falls were the most common etiology of SCI (60 percent), followed by transport accidents (24 percent) and complications of medical and surgical care (12 percent). In the younger group, transport accidents were the most common etiology of SCI (49 percent), followed by falls (22 percent) and assault (21 percent). Falls on the same level (30 percent), from stairs and steps (22 percent), and other slipping, tripping, and stumbling (11 percent) were the most common mechanisms of falls in the elderly group. Among motor vehicle accidents, car occupant injured in a collision with another car was the most common mechanism of injury among the elderly (28 percent). These findings suggest that there is an urgent need for effective fall prevention programs among the elderly to reduce SCI in this expanding population. Details on the mechanisms of falls and other major causes of SCI among the elderly provided in this study should inform the development of future interventions for high-risk persons, activities, and environments.

Author(s):

Participating Centers: