Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Stay connected! Follow us on X network (Twitter):
Share this content! On (X network) By
Epidemiology of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Developing Countries From 2009 to 2020: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Publisher Pubmed



Golestani A1 ; Shobeiri P1 ; Sadeghinaini M2 ; Jazayeri SB1, 3 ; Maroufi SF1 ; Ghodsi Z1, 4 ; Dabbagh Ohadi MA1, 5 ; Mohammadi E1 ; Rahimimovaghar V1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 ; Ghodsi SM4
Authors
Show Affiliations
Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Iran
  3. 3. Students' Scientific Research Center (SSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Research Program, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Neurosurgery, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  7. 7. Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
  8. 8. Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
  9. 9. Spine Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Source: Neuroepidemiology Published:2022


Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is a catastrophic event with a considerable health and economic burden on individuals and countries. This study was performed to update an earlier systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological properties of TSCI in developing countries published in 2013. METHODS: Various search methods including online searching in database of EMBASE and PubMed, and hand searching were performed (2012 to May 2020). The keywords Spinal cord injury, epidemiology, incidence, and prevalence were used. Based on the definition of developing countries by the International Monetary Fund, studies related to developing countries were included. Data selection was according to PRISMA guidelines. The quality of included studies was evaluated by Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. Results of meta-analysis were presented as pooled frequency, and forest, funnel, and drapery plots. RESULTS: We identified 47 studies from 23 developing countries. The pooled incidence of TSCI in developing countries was 22.55/million/year (95% CI: 13.52; 37.62/million/year). Males comprised 80.09% (95% CI: 78.29%; 81.83%) of TSCIs, and under 30 years patients were the most affected age group. Two leading etiologies of TSCIs were motor vehicle crashes (43.18% [95% CI: 37.80%; 48.63%]) and falls (34.24% [95% CI: 29.08%; 39.59%], respectively). The difference among the frequency of complete injury (49.47% [95% CI: 43.11%; 55.84%]) and incomplete injury (50.53% [95% CI: 44.16%; 56.89%]) was insignificant. The difference among frequency of tetraplegia (46.25% [95% CI: 37.78%; 54.83%]) and paraplegia (53.75% [95% CI: 45.17%; 62.22%]) was not statistically significant. The most prevalent level of TSCI was cervical injury (43.42% [95% CI: 37.38%; 49.55%]). CONCLUSION: In developing countries, TSCIs are more common in young adults and males. Motor vehicle crashes and falls are the main etiologies. Understanding epidemiological characteristics of TSCIs could lead to implant-appropriate cost-effective preventive strategies to decrease TSCI incidence and burden. © 2022 S. Karger AG, Basel.