Spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) in Tianjin, China: a single-center report of 101 cases.

STUDY

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the recent epidemiological characteristics of spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) in adult patients at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, China, from 2018 to 2022.

SETTING

Tianjin Medical University General Hospital.

METHODS

This study included all SCIWORA patients aged ≥ 16 years who were accepted by a general hospital from January 2008 to December 2022. Epidemiological characteristics including sex, age, occupation, etiology, segment of spinal injury, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA)-ISCoS impairment scale at admission, severity, death and its cause, concomitant injuries and treatment choice were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 101 patients met the criteria for the study. The average age at injury was 54.7 ± 12.3 years (males: 54.7 ± 12.2 years and females: 54.2 ± 12.8 years), with a range of 18-83 years, and the male/female ratio was 4.6:1. The main reason was low falls (53.5%). C4 was the most commonly involved segment. Fifteen (14.9%) patients experienced clinical complications; the most common complication was electrolyte disorder (4.0%), and the most common concomitant injuries were maxillofacial injury (29.7%), followed by head injury (9.9%). Regarding severity, ASIA grade C was encountered most frequently. Surgery was the main treatment choice (84.1%).

CONCLUSION

The epidemiology of adult SCIWORA has unique characteristics. Low falls were the major reason, and the proportion of males was higher. Retired individuals were those at higher risk, and the average age at injury onset was in the middle-aged and elderly range. Surgical treatment was the major treatment choice.

CLINICAL TRIAL APPROVAL: Not applicable.