The epidemiology of spinal fractures in a level 2 trauma center in Kuwait

OBJECTIVES: Spinal fractures are a public health issue with high morbidity and mortality, and significant social and economic impact. The burden of disease can be minimized through effective management and preventive strategies based on basic epidemiological figures. Therefore, this study aimed to establish the epidemiological figures for traumatic injuries of the spine, including prevalence and associated risk factors in Kuwait, one of the high-income countries in the Middle East region. METHODS: Using a retrospective design, the Orthopedic Admission Database of level II trauma center was reviewed from January 2018 to February 2020 for traumatic spinal fractures. RESULTS: The study included 564 patients with 788 fractures, and from this sample, 162 patients sustained vertebral fractures at 181 different vertebral anatomical areas, resulting in 28.72% prevalence rate for spinal fractures; the mean age was 37.10 (SD = 18.25) years old; 79.2% were men, and 57.8% were Kuwaitis. The most prevalent mechanism of injury was road traffic accidents at 54.5%, and the lumbar spine was the most prevalent fracture site, followed by the thoracic spine at 47.5% and 31.5%, respectively. The mortality rate associated with spinal fractures is 42.10% from trauma cases admitted to the intensive care unit. Patients’ sex, nationality, fracture anatomical site, and the mechanism of injury were identified as risk factors (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The established epidemiological figures for spinal fractures can be used to direct management and preventive strategies and assist health care planning and delivery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III