OBJECTIVE: retrospective epidemiological analysis of spinal cord injury patients admitted to Centro de Reabilitação e Readaptação Dr. Henrique Santillo (CRER) in Goiânia, Goiás. METHODS: retrospective epidemiological study based on the analysis of medical records data of patients who were hospitalized in the period from March 2007 to March 2009. RESULTS: 208 patients were analyzed, predominantly male (78.85%) with a mean age of 35.3 years. The most neurological deficit was paraplegic (64.90%), and 54.33% of the patients were classified as ASIA A (complete lesion), according to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA). The average time from injury to admission was 129.7 days, and the mean time of hospitalization was 44.9 days. The main cause was traumatic spinal cord injury and of these, 44.70% were from traffic accidents. The main complication was urinary tract infection. CONCLUSION: the epidemiological data of spinal cord injury patients admitted to rehabilitation in CRER was in accordance with data already reported in literature, demonstrating the importance of dissemination and implementation campaigns for the prevention of spinal cord trauma. As well as the need for early referral of patients to a rehabilitation center, since most of them are young with severe neurological deficit and highly disabling.
Spinal cord injuries; Spinal cord injuries; Spinal cord injuries; Public health; Accidents, traffic
