Epidemiological Profile of Spine Cases in a Tertiary Care Hospital

• Published in: Philippine Journal of Orthopaedics Vol. 39; no. 2; pp. 44 - 48
• Main Authors: Chiu, Jan Melburgo, Cocjin, Hansel Gould, Tan, Gladys, Valdevieso, Ma. Ella Muriel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philippine Orthopaedic Association, Inc 07.11.2024
• Subjects: non-traumatic spine injury; spine disorder epidemiology; traumatic spine injury
• ISSN: 0118-3362; 2012-3264
• DOI: 10.69472/poai.2024.19

Introduction. The global incidence and prevalence of spine disorders are increasing with population growth. Traumatic spine injury and non-traumatic spine disorders are life-changing conditions. Despite growing literature about spine disorders, we found little published Asian epidemiological data. This study aimed to thoroughly understand the epidemiology of patients with spine disorders in our institution. Methodology. This study utilized a descriptive retrospective cohort study design, and included patients with spine disorders admitted from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2022. The patient records were retrieved, and data was collected according to the demographic profile, level of spinal disorders, type of management, and mortality rate. Results. Of 474 patients with spinal disorders admitted to our institution, most were young and older adults at 31.4% and 36.3%, respectively. Most were males at 70.3%. Traumatic spinal disorders were more common at 66.2%. Infection was the most common non-traumatic disorder at 56.9%. The cervical spine was most affected by traumatic etiology (56.1%), while the thoracic spine was most affected by non-traumatic causes (57.5%). Among non-traumatic cases, infectious etiology, particularly tuberculosis, accounted for the highest number, followed by degenerative causes and tumors (74.7%, 70.0%, and 25.8%, respectively). Surgical management was primarily used for traumatic spinal disorders, while the majority of non-traumatic cases received conservative treatment (55.1% and 72.5%, respectively). There has been a steady decrease in mortality for spinal disorders for the past seven years. Conclusion. Both traumatic and non-traumatic etiologies of spine disorders show a steady decrease in mortality rate, which may indicate an improvement in the hospital’s orthopaedic spine service. The reduced mortality rates indicate improvement in spine care in the locality and can be used to advocate for public health measures.