Volume 122, Issue s190 pp. 51-57

Traumatic spinal cord injury and concomitant brain injury: a cohort study

E. M. Hagen

E. M. Hagen

Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

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G. E. Eide

G. E. Eide

Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

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T. Rekand

T. Rekand

Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

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N. E. Gilhus

N. E. Gilhus

Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

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M. Gronning

M. Gronning

Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

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First published: 02 June 2010
Citations: 38
Ellen Merete Hagen, Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway
Tel.: +47 55 975105
Fax: +47 55 975164
e-mail: [email protected]

Conflicts of interest : none.

Abstract

Hagen EM, Eide GE, Rekand T, Gilhus NE, Gronning M. Traumatic spinal cord injury and concomitant brain injury: a cohort study. Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 122 (Suppl. 190): 51–57. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Objective – To assess the temporal trends in the incidence and demographic characteristics of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) with clinical concomitant traumatic brain injury (TBI), in an unselected, geographically defined cohort, 1952–2001.

Material and methods – The patients were identified from hospital records. TBI was classified as none, mild, moderate, and severe.

Results – Of 336 patients, 157 (46.7%) patients had a clinical concomitant TBI. Clinical TBI was classified as mild in 30.1%, moderate in 11.0% and severe in 5.7%. The average annual incidence increased from 3.3 per million in the first decade to 10.7 per million in the last. Alcohol was the strongest risk factor of clinical TBI (OR = 3.69) followed by completeness of TSCI (OR = 2.18).

Conclusions – The incidence of TSCI with concomitant TBI has increased during the last 50 years. Alcohol and completeness of injury are strong risk factors. Increased awareness of dual diagnoses is necessary.

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