An epidemiological survey of acute spinal trauma caused by traffic accidents versus falls in Northern Taiwan

Background. Traffic accidents and falls are the major causes of spinal trauma, which result in serious personal and social loss. A comparison between causes and patients' characteristics can be important. Methods. A total of 681 spinal trauma patients were compared for differences, and the effects of age stratification of the differences are discussed. Results. Significant differences were observed between falls and traffic accidents in the following variables: age (P <.001), associated injuries (P <.001), type of associated injury (P =.001), pattern of neurological deficits (P =.040), and location of spinal trauma (P <.001). After age stratification, significant differences were noted in neurological deficits (P =.032) in the prime age group. Conclusions. Although traffic accidents caused spinal trauma mostly in the prime age group, falls caused more neurological deficits. Falls caused more spinal trauma in elders but did not cause more neurological deficits. To decrease the economic cost of neurological deficits, preventive measures should be targeted at younger people for falls and at older people for both causes.