The prevalence and profile of spinal cord injury in public healthcare rehabilitation units in Gauteng, South Africa

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective medical record review. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and describe the profile of person with SCI (PWSCI) admitted in the public healthcare sector in Gauteng, South Africa. SETTING: Specialized public healthcare rehabilitation units in Gauteng, South Africa. METHODS: Medical records of PWSCI admitted to public healthcare rehabilitation units between 01 January 2018 and 31 December 2019 were perused. Data were collected anonymously and then summarised using descriptive and inferential statistics. Significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: 386 of 998 participants (38.7%) were admitted following SCI and the mean age was 36.9 years. Most participants were male (69.9%), with females significantly more likely to sustain a NTSCI (p < 0.001), which was the least common cause of SCI (34.9%). Those sustaining a TSCI were found to be significantly younger than their NTSCI counterparts (p < 0.001). Assault was the leading cause of injury (35.2%), and a positive HIV status with the presence of comorbidities were found to be significant risk factors for developing a NTSCI (p < 0.001). Most injuries were between T7-T12 (39.9%) and were complete (56.9%). The rehabilitation length of stay 85.6 days, with a mortality rate of 6.48%. CONCLUSIONS: Gauteng has among the highest global proportion of TSCI due to assault. Of interest, more females sustained a NTSCI than their male counterparts. There is a need to strengthen SCI prevention strategies, particularly targeting assault in young males and infectious causes in females and older populations. Further epidemiological and outcomes-based research is required for PWSCI.