1. Traumatic spinal injuries in Northern Finland
Supplemental PowerPoint Slides
Traumatic spinal injuries in Northern Finland
Ville Niemi-Nikkola, B.M.1,2 Nelli Saijets, B.M.1,2 Henriikka Ylipoussu, B.M.1,2 Pietari Kinnunen, M.D., Ph.D.3 Juha Pesälä, M.D.3 Pirkka Mäkelä, M.D.3 Markku Alen, M.D., Ph.D.1,4 Mauri Kallinen, M.D., Ph.D.1,4 Aki Vainionpää, M.D., Ph.D.1,4
1. Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Oulu University Hospital
2. Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu
3. Division of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Department of Surgery, Oulu University Hospital
4. Center for Life Course Epidemiology Research, University of Oulu
Copyright © 2017 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized commercial reproduction of this slide is prohibited

2.  PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS
TSI
Number of cases
971
Incidence/
Gender (male/female)
1.5/1
Age; mean±SD
53.1±21.9
Invasive treatment; n (%)
Spinal surgery
Vertebro-/kyphoplasty
416 (42.8%)
376 (38.7%)
40 (4.1%)
Level of injury; n (%)
Cervical
283 (29.1%)
Thoracic
180 (18.5%)
Lumbar
323 (33.3%)
Sacrum
63 (6.5%)
Cervical+Thoracic
41 (4.2%)
Cervical+Lumbar
5 (0.5%)
Thoracic+Lumbar
65 (6.7%)
Cervical+Thoracic+Lumbar
Need for ICU treatment; n (%)
149 (15.3%)
TSI, traumatic spinal injuries
SD, standard deviation
ICU, Intensive Care Unit
A retrospective epidemiological study about traumatic spinal injuries in Northern Finland
Study sample of 971 patients admitted to Oulu University Hospital

3. Key points
The incidence of hospitalized traumatic spinal injuries was 26/ in Northern Finland and 35/ in the OYS main responsibility area
In-hospital mortality and 30-day mortality were low, being 0.8% and 1.9%, respectively
Low fall was the most common trauma mechanism, followed by road traffic accident and high fall
Nearly one third of the patients suffered from at least one associated injury and more than one third needed spinal surgery
The primary focus of preventive measures should be focused on low falls of ageing people and road traffic injuries of younger people