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Global Incidence and Prevalence of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 September 2014

Julio C. Furlan ,
Brodie M. Sakakibara ,
William C. Miller  and
Andrei V. Krassioukov
Julio C. Furlan*
Affiliation:
Division of Genetics and Development, Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network Lyndhurst Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
Brodie M. Sakakibara
Affiliation:
GF Strong Rehabilitation, Research Lab Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
William C. Miller
Affiliation:
Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Andrei V. Krassioukov
Affiliation:
International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
*
Toronto Western Research Institute, 399 Bathurst Street, McL 12-407, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada. Email: jcfurlan@gmail.com
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Abstract:

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This systematic review examines the incidence and prevalence of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) in different countries worldwide and their trends over time. The literature search of the studies published between 1950 and 2012 captured 1,871 articles of which 64 articles on incidence and 13 articles on prevalence fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The global incidence of SCI varied from 8.0 to 246.0 cases per million inhabitants per year. The global prevalence varied from 236.0 to 1,298.0 per million inhabitants. In addition to regional differences regarding the prevalence rates of SCI across the globe, there has been a trend towards increasing prevalence rates over the last decades. Our results suggest a relatively broad variation of incidence and prevalence rates of SCI among distinctive geographic regions. These results emphasize the need for further studies on incidence and prevalence of SCI, and for international standards and guidelines for reporting on SCI.

Résumé:

Résumé:

Cette revue systématique examine l'incidence et la prévalence des lésions traumatiques à la moelle épinière (LTMÉ) dansdifférents pays à travers le monde et leur évolution à travers le temps. Une recherche documentaire a identifié 1 871 articles publiés entre 1950 et 2012, dont 64 articles portant sur l'incidence et 13 articles sur la prévalence quiremplissaient les critères d'inclusion et d'exclusion de notre étude. L'incidence et la prévalence mondiales de LTMÉ variaient de 8,0 à 246,0 cas et de 236,0 à 1 298,0 cas par 1 000 000 habitants par année respectivement. En plus de différences régionales entre les taux de prévalence de LTMÉ à travers le monde, il existait une tendance vers une augmentation du taux de prévalence au cours des dernières décennies. Selon nos résultats, il existerait une variation relativement élevée des taux d'incidence et de prévalence de LTMÉ parmi les différentes régions géographiques du monde. Ces résultats soulignent la nécessité de procéder à des études plus poussées sur l'incidence et la prévalence de LTMÉ et d'établir des standards et des lignes directrices internationales concernant la façon de les rapporter.

Type
Review Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 40 , Issue 4 , July 2013 , pp. 456 - 464
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2013

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