Epidemiology of traumatic cervical spinal fractures in a general Norwegian population

Injury Epidemiology, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-022-00374-w · Published: March 8, 2022

Trauma Public Health Musculoskeletal Medicine

Simple Explanation

This study examines cervical spine fractures (CS-Fx) in Southeast Norway between 2015 and 2019. It looks at who gets these fractures, how they happen, and how they are treated. The research found that older people are more likely to have these fractures, often from falls. The study also looks at the types of injuries and how they are managed, either with surgery or a neck brace. The findings help with planning healthcare and preventing injuries. It shows that the typical patient is now an elderly person with other health issues, injured in a low-impact event.

Study Duration

5 years

Participants

2153 consecutive cases with CS-Fx

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The overall crude incidence rate of CS-Fx in Norway was 14.9/100,000 person-years.
2
The most common trauma mechanism for CS-Fx was falls (56.7%), followed by bicycle injuries (11.9%) and four-wheel motorized vehicle accidents (9.8%).
3
Concomitant cSCI was seen in 249/2153 (11.6%) of the patients with CS-Fx.

Research Summary

This study provides an overview of the extent of the issue and patient complexity necessary for planning the health-care management and injury prevention of CS-Fx. The typical CS-Fx patient was an elderly male or female with significant comorbidities injured in a low-energy trauma. The overall crude incidences of CS-Fx and surgical fixation of CS-Fx in Southeast Norway were 14.9/100,000 person-years and 3.7/100,000 person-years, respectively.

Practical Implications

Healthcare Planning

Understanding the incidence and patient characteristics of CS-Fx helps in allocating resources and planning healthcare services.

Injury Prevention

Focusing on fall prevention measures, especially for the elderly, can reduce the incidence of CS-Fx.

Road Safety

Improving road safety for bicyclists is crucial to decrease bicycle-related CS-Fx.

Study Limitations

1
Most likely, the “true” incidence of CS-Fx in Norway is slightly higher due to some undiagnosed fractures and underreporting of CS-Fx from local hospitals to the registry, as discussed above.
2
The external validity of this study is difficult to assess due to the lack of similar studies from other countries.
3
The lack of information on injury severity scores (ISS) in the Registry used is a limitation.

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