RESUMO
STUDY DESIGN: Review of clinical data. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and demographical profile of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) admitted to a single center. SETTING: Unidad de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación Centro, México. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with TSCI attending rehabilitation for the first time. INTERVENTION: Not applicable. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Age, gender, educational level, occupational activity, causes of injury, level of injury, neurological level, injury severity and category were recorded. RESULTS: Four hundred and sixty-four clinical files of patients with TSCI were collected. The mean age was 37.9 ± 15.9 years; 78.2% (363/464) were male, basic educational level predominated in 63.6% (296/464) and 73.1% (339/464) were employed. A fall was the main mechanism of the injury in 41.6% (193/464), replacing automobile accidents from the first place. The mean age of persons who suffered falls was 44 ± 16 years. Injuries sustained by younger persons were due to violence (28.4 ± 10.1 years) and the cause of injury associated with male gender was violence. Thoracic level was most often affected (in 56.7%, 263/464) and neurological level C4 in 13.4% (62/464). In regard to the extent of the injury, lesions classified as American Spinal Injury Association A predominated (56.2%, 261/464) as with complete paraplegia in 43.3% (201/464). CONCLUSIONS: The mean age of our patients was 37 years. Men are affected in a higher proportion. Our population has <9 years of study. Physical labor was the usual pre-injury activity. The main mechanism of injury was falls. Thoracic spine was the most affected.