Socio-demographic factors, clinico-radiological profile of patients with traumatic cervical spine injury in South India, and its association with short-term clinical outcome

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury is a devastating condition to an individual and his/her family imposing an economic burden on the family, society, and the country. Finding out the demographic and morbidity profile of cervical spine injuries is essential for formulating means and ways for its prevention and treatment. AIM: This study aimed at assessing the clinico-radiological and socio-demographic profile of cervical spine injury patients and their association with short-term clinical outcomes. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study that included 120 patients with cervical spine/cord injury. Social, demographic, clinical, and radiological parameters of the study participants were recorded. Improvement, worsening, and neurological stability at 2 weeks follow-ups were considered as a short-term outcome. The association of neurological outcomes with clinico-radiological profile and socio-demographic characteristics was analyzed to study the level of significance. RESULTS: The study found that nearly 81% of the study participants were involved in heavy physical activity, and 45% of the cases sustained cervical spine injury because of falls from height. About 37% and 55% of patients had complete and incomplete cord injury, respectively. Computerized tomography of the spine injury patients showed a fracture, subluxation, and locked facets. Magnetic resonance imaging showed disco-ligamentous injury and cord contusion in these patients. Nearly 29% of patients showed motor improvement, and around 4% of patients had a worsening of their neurological status after 2 weeks. CONCLUSION: Most of the people who sustain cervical spine injuries are involved in heavy physical work. Female gender, incomplete cord injury, and unilateral locked facet in subluxation are associated with good neurological outcomes. This study will form a preliminary base to build a larger database on spinal cord injury at the regional and national levels.