Epidemiology of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Rajshahi: A prospective study in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital

Background: Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that can lead to significant physical, psychological, and social consequences for affected individuals and their families. SCI is a major public health problem worldwide, with an estimated incidence of 10-83 cases per million population per year, depending on the region and study population. Objective: This study was to determine the epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Methods: This was a prospective study conducted at the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021. The total sample size was 218. Data on demographic characteristics, cause and level of injury, associated injuries, and neurological status were collected and analyzed. Results: The majority of patients (69.3%) were male and the mean age was 39.8 years. The most common cause of SCI was road traffic accidents (47.7%), followed by falls (25.7%) and violence (15.6%). The cervical spine was the most common level of injury (50.9%), followed by the thoracic spine (37.2%) and lumbar spine (11.9%). Associated injuries were present in 43.1% of patients. The most common neurological status at admission was complete injury (47.7%). The mortality rate was 9.6%. Conclusion: Traumatic SCI is a significant public health problem in Rajshahi, with road traffic accidents being the leading cause. The cervical spine was the most commonly affected level, and associated injuries were present in a significant proportion of patients. The mortality rate was also considerable. These findings highlight the need for the development of effective prevention strategies, improved trauma care, and rehabilitation services for individuals with SCI in the region.