Novel Association of Blunt Cerebrovascular Injuries with the San Diego-Mexico Border Wall Height Extension.

BACKGROUND: The San Diego-Mexico border wall height extension is associated with increased traumatic injuries and related costs after wall falls. We report previous trends and a neurological injury type not previously associated with border falls: blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVIs). METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients who presented to the UC San Diego Health Trauma Center for injuries from border wall falls from 2016 to 2021 were considered. Patients were included if they were admitted before (January 2016 to May 2018) or after (January 2020 to December 2021) the height extension period. Patient demographics, clinical data, and hospital stay data were compared. RESULTS: We identified 383 patients, 51 (68.6% male; mean age, 33.5 years) in the pre-height extension cohort and 332 (77.1% male; mean age, 31.5 years) in the post-height extension cohort. There were 0 and 5 BCVIs in the pre- and post-height extension groups, respectively. BCVIs were associated with increased injury severity scores (9.16 vs. 31.33; P < 0.001), longer intensive care unit lengths of stay (median, 0 days; [interquartile range (IQR), 0-3 days]; vs. median, 5 days [IQR, 2-21 days]; P = 0.022), and increased total hospital charges (median, $163,490 [IQR, $86,578-$282,036]; vs. median, $835,260 [IQR, $171,049-$1,933,996]; P = 0.048). Poisson modeling found BCVI admissions were 0.21 (95% confidence interval, 0.07-0.41; P = 0.042) per month higher after the height extension. CONCLUSIONS: We review the injuries correlating with the border wall extension and reveal an association with rare, potentially devastating BCVIs that were not seen before the border wall modifications. These BCVIs and associated morbidity shed light on the trauma increasingly found at the southern U.S. border, which could be informative for future infrastructure policy decisions.

Characterizing the frequency, morbidity, and types of traumatic brain injuries after the Mexico-San Diego border wall extension: a retrospective cohort review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the US-Mexico border wall height extension on traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and related costs. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients who presented to the UC San Diego Health Trauma Center for injuries from falling at the border wall between 2016 and 2021 were considered. Patients in the pre-height extension period (January 2016-May 2018) were compared with those in the post-height extension period (January 2020-December 2021). Demographic characteristics, clinical data, and hospital charges were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 383 patients were identified: 51 (0 TBIs, 68.6% male) in the pre-height extension cohort and 332 (14 TBIs, 77.1% male) in the post-height extension cohort, with mean ages of 33.5 and 31.5 years, respectively. There was an increase in the average number of TBIs per month (0.0 to 0.34) and operative TBIs per month (0.0 to 0.12). TBIs were associated with increased Injury Severity Score (8.8 vs 24.2, p < 0.001), median (IQR) hospital length of stay (5.0 [2-11] vs 8.5 [4-45] days, p = 0.03), and median (IQR) hospital charges ($163,490 [$86,369-$277,918] vs $243,658 [$136,769-$1,127,920], p = 0.04). TBIs were normalized for changing migration rates on the basis of Customs and Border Protection apprehensions. CONCLUSIONS: This heightened risk of intracranial injury among vulnerable immigrant populations poses ethical and economic concerns to be addressed regarding border wall infrastructure.

The impact of the Mexico-San Diego border wall extension on spine injuries: a retrospective cohort review.

BACKGROUND: The recent San Diego-Mexico border wall height extension has resulted in an increased injury risk for unauthorized immigrants falling from greater heights. However, the effects of the border wall extension on frequency and morbidity of spinal injuries and related economic costs have yet to be highlighted. METHODS: We retrospectively compared two cohorts who presented to the UC San Diego Health Trauma Center for border wall falls: pre-height extension (12 patients; January 2016-May 2018), and post-height extension (102 patients; January 2020-December 2021). Patients presented during border wall construction (June 2018-December 2019) were excluded. Demographics, clinical data and hospital costs were collected. Spinal injuries were normalized using Customs and Border Protection apprehensions. Costs were adjusted for inflation using the 2021 medical care price index. RESULTS: The increase in spine injuries per month (0.8-4.25) and operative spine injuries per month (0.3- 1.7) was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Increase in median length of stay from 6 [interquartile range (IQR) 2-7] to 9 days (IQR 6-13) was statistically significant (P = 0.006). Median total hospital charges increased from $174 660 to $294 421 and was also significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The data support that the recent San Diego-Mexico border wall extension is correlated with more frequent, severe and costly spinal injuries. This current infrastructure should be re-evaluated as border-related injuries represent a humanitarian and public health crisis.