Abstract
Study design
A registry-based cross-sectional study.
Objectives
To analyse the epidemiological and demographic characteristics of persons with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in Norway.
Setting
TSCI patients admitted for primary rehabilitation to one of the three specialised spinal cord injury (SCI) departments (located in Bergen, Trondheim, and Oslo) and consented to the Norwegian Spinal Cord Injury Registry (NorSCIR).
Methods
Analysis of data from NorSCIR during a 5-year period (2012–2016) was performed. Data were collected by using the International SCI Core Data Set as recommended by the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS).
Results
The lowest incidence of TSCI was 11.4/million (2012), and the highest incidence was 15.9/million (2014). In the study period, 349 individuals were registered with TSCI. In total, 76% were male, and the mean age was 47 (SD ± 19) years. We observed dominance in the 60–74 years age group. The distribution between tetraplegia and paraplegia was 48%/42%. For those initially classified as American Spinal Cord Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade A (complete injury), 77% remained grade A at discharge. Considerable changes during primary rehabilitation after incomplete lesions were observed. Most patients (68%) were discharged home after primary rehabilitation. Falls were the main cause of TSCI (47%) and occurred more often during the weekend.
Conclusion
Through a National Medical Quality Registry based on internationally provided data sets, we are able to present systematic and updated data from Norway.
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Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the three SCI specialized centres, located at Haukeland University Hospital, St. Olav’s University Hospital and Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital for registration in the Norwegian SCI registry. We would like to thank all members of the Norwegian SCI registry steering committee for support and data collection, and the National Spinal Cord Injuries Association for good cooperation and enthusiasm.
Funding
This study was financed by St. Olavs hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway. SMN was funded by the Norwegian research council (Grant number 256579).
Author contributions
AH, ALP, and TR analysed and interpreted the data, prepared and revised manuscript content. SMN in collaboration with KKH provided statistical guidance/support and critically revised the manuscript content. AH, ALP, TR, EES also critically revised manuscript content and supported data collection. All authors have given their final approval of the version to be submitted.
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Ethical–legal aspects
The NorSCIR registry is approved by the Norwegian Data Protection Authority (09/01084-2/CGN). Registration in the registry is voluntary, and written informed consent is obtained before registration occurs. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from regional committees for medical and health research ethics (2017/1092).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.
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Halvorsen, A., Pettersen, A.L., Nilsen, S.M. et al. Epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury in Norway in 2012–2016: a registry-based cross-sectional study. Spinal Cord 57, 331–338 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-018-0225-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-018-0225-5
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