CHANGES IN EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ACUTE SPINAL-CORD INJURY FROM 1947 TO 1981

The aim of this study was to determine whether there have been epidemi ologic changes in acute spinal cord injury. Two groups of patients inj ured in the same geographic area were compared: the first group of 351 patients was injured between 1947 and 1973; and the second group of 2 01 patients between 1974 and 1981. The results showed that there were indeed major epidemiologic changes in spinal cord injury between the t wo study periods. Most importantly, the more recently injured group we re younger, arrived sooner, had less severe cord injuries, and higher frequencies of motor vehicle, and sports and recreational accidents, b ut fewer work-related injuries.