Background: Road collisions remain the leading cause of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in the world. Half of all TSCIs in Ireland in 2000 were caused by road collisions. Since then, there has been a downward trend in road fatalities coincident with implemented road safety strategies. Objective: To examine the incidence of TSCI resulting from road collisions from 2001 to 2010. Method: This is a retrospective study using the hospital inpatient enquiry database of the tertiary referral center, which houses the national spinal injuries unit. Information retrieved included total numbers of patients with TSCI and number of TSCIs due to road collisions from 2001 through 2010, age groups affected, and the gender balance. Results: Over the 10-year period studied, the incidence rate of TSCI due to road collisions declined, although this did not reach statistical significance. The largest numbers of all TSCIs and TSCIs due to road collisions were in the 20-to 29-year age category and the male gender. Conclusions: As mortality due to road collisions declined, so did the number of TSCIs from the same etiology. An impactful road safety campaign is likely to have influenced these trends.

Cripps RA, Lee BB, Wing P, Weerts E, Mackay J, Brown D. A global map for traumatic spinal cord injury epidemiology: Towards a living data repository for injury prevention. Spinal Cord. 2011;49:493–501.
,
A global map for traumatic spinal cord injury epidemiology: Towards a living data repository for injury prevention
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
49
(pg.
493
-
501
)
Burke DA, Linden RD, Zhang YP, Maiste AC, Shields CB. Incidence rates and populations at risk for spinal cord injury: A regional study. Spinal Cord. 2001;39:274–278.
,
Incidence rates and populations at risk for spinal cord injury: A regional study
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
39
(pg.
274
-
278
)
Ravaud J-F, Delcey M, Desert J-F; the Tetrafigap group. The Tetrafigap study on the long-term outcome of tetraplegic spinal cord injured persons, part II: Demographic characteristics and initial cause of injury. Spinal Cord. 2000;38:164–172.
,
the Tetrafigap group. The Tetrafigap study on the long-term outcome of tetraplegic spinal cord injured persons, part II: Demographic characteristics and initial cause of injury
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
38
(pg.
164
-
172
)
Hagen EM, Eide GE, Rekand T, Gilhus NE, Gronning M. A 50-year follow-up of the incidence of traumatic spinal cord injuries in Western Norway. Spinal Cord. 2010;48:313–318.
,
A 50-year follow-up of the incidence of traumatic spinal cord injuries in Western Norway
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
48
(pg.
313
-
318
)
Couris CM, Guilcher SJT, Munce SEP, et al. Characteristics of adults with incident traumatic spinal cord injury in Ontario, Canada. Spinal Cord. 2010;48:39–44.
,
Characteristics of adults with incident traumatic spinal cord injury in Ontario, Canada
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
48
(pg.
39
-
44
)
O’Connor RJ, Murray PC. Review of spinal cord injuries in Ireland. Spinal Cord. 2006;44:445–448.
,
Review of spinal cord injuries in Ireland
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
44
(pg.
445
-
448
)
Central Statistics Office. Census 2002. http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/2002preliminary.pdf http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/2002preliminary.pdf
Central Statistics Office. Census 2006. http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/2006PreliminaryReport.pdf http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/2006PreliminaryReport.pdf
Central Statistics Office. Census 2011. http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/Prelim,complete.pdf http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/Prelim,complete.pdf
Merrill R. Fundamentals of Epidemiology and Biostatistics: Combining the Basics. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning; 2013.
,
Fundamentals of Epidemiology and Biostatistics: Combining the Basics.
Cohen J. Quantitative methods in psychology: A power primer. Psychol Bull. 1992;112(1):155–159.
,
Quantitative methods in psychology: A power primer
,
Psychol Bull.
, vol.
112
(pg.
155
-
159
)
De Vivo MJ, Chen Y. Trends in new injuries, prevalent cases and ageing with spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2011;92:332–338.
,
Trends in new injuries, prevalent cases and ageing with spinal cord injury
,
Arch Phys Med Rehabil.
, vol.
92
(pg.
332
-
338
)
O’Connor PJ. Survival after spinal cord injury in Australia. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005;86:37–47.
,
Survival after spinal cord injury in Australia
,
Arch Phys Med Rehabil.
, vol.
86
(pg.
37
-
47
)
Karacen I, Koyuncu H, Pekel O, et al. Traumatic spinal cord injuries in Turkey: A nation-wide epidemiological study. Spinal Cord. 2000;38:697–701.
,
Traumatic spinal cord injuries in Turkey: A nation-wide epidemiological study
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
38
(pg.
697
-
701
)
Pagliacci MC, Celani MG, Zampolini M, et al. An Italian survey of traumatic spinal cord injury. The Gruppo Italiano Studio Epidemiologico Mielolesioni. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2003;84:1266–1275.
,
An Italian survey of traumatic spinal cord injury. The Gruppo Italiano Studio Epidemiologico Mielolesioni
,
Arch Phys Med Rehabil.
, vol.
84
(pg.
1266
-
1275
)
Biering-Sorensen F, Pedersen V, Clausen S. Epidemiology of spinal cord lesions in Denmark. Paraplegia. 1990;28:105–118.
,
Epidemiology of spinal cord lesions in Denmark
,
Paraplegia.
, vol.
28
(pg.
105
-
118
)
Draulans N, Kiekens C, Roels E, Peers K. Etiology of spinal cord injuries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Spinal Cord. 2011;49:1148–1154.
,
Etiology of spinal cord injuries in Sub-Saharan Africa
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
49
(pg.
1148
-
1154
)
Ravaud J-F, Delcey M, Desert J-F; the Tetrafigap group. The Tetrafigap study on the long-term outcome of tetraplegic spinal cord injured persons, part II: Demographic characteristics and initial cause of injury. Spinal Cord. 2000;38:164–172.
,
the Tetrafigap group. The Tetrafigap study on the long-term outcome of tetraplegic spinal cord injured persons, part II: Demographic characteristics and initial cause of injury
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
38
(pg.
164
-
172
)
Shingu H, Ohama M, Ikata T, Katoh S, Akatsu T. A nationwide epidemiological survey of spinal cord injuries in Japan from January 1990 to December 1992. Paraplegia. 1995;33:183–188.
,
A nationwide epidemiological survey of spinal cord injuries in Japan from January 1990 to December 1992
,
Paraplegia.
, vol.
33
(pg.
183
-
188
)
Divanoglou A, Seiger A, Levi R. Acute management of traumatic spinal cord injury in a Greek and a Swedish region: A prospective, population-based study. Spinal Cord. 2010;48:488–482.
,
Acute management of traumatic spinal cord injury in a Greek and a Swedish region: A prospective, population-based study
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
48
(pg.
488
-
482
)
O’Connor PJ. Prevalence of spinal cord injury in Australia. Spinal Cord. 2005;43:42–46.
,
Prevalence of spinal cord injury in Australia
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
43
(pg.
42
-
46
)
Road Collision Facts 2008. Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland: Road Safety Authority; January 2010 Pre-Crash Behaviour in Fatal Road Collisions, Report No. 1 Alcohol. Research Department, Road Safety Authority; September 2011. http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Press%20Office/Review%20of%20Pre-crash%20Behaviour%20in%20Fatal%20Road%20Collisions%20Alcohol%20FinalFriday16Updated.pdf http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Press%20Office/Review%20of%20Pre-crash%20Behaviour%20in%20Fatal%20Road%20Collisions%20Alcohol%20FinalFriday16Updated.pdf
Van Asbeck FWA, Post MWM, Pangalila RF. An epidemiological description of spinal cord injuries in the Netherlands in 1994. Spinal Cord. 2000;38:420–424.
,
An epidemiological description of spinal cord injuries in the Netherlands in 1994
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
38
(pg.
420
-
424
)
Dahlberg A, Kotila M, Leppanen P, Kautiainen H, Alaranta H. Prevalence of spinal cord in Helsinki. Spinal Cord. 2005;43:47–50.
,
Prevalence of spinal cord in Helsinki
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
43
(pg.
47
-
50
)
O’Connor PJ. Development and utilisation of the Australian spinal cord injury register. Spinal Cord. 2000;38:597–603.
,
Development and utilisation of the Australian spinal cord injury register
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
38
(pg.
597
-
603
)
Noonan VK, Kwon BK, Soril L, et al. The Rick Hansen spinal cord injury registry (RHSCIR): A national patient-registry. Spinal Cord. 2012;50:22–27.
,
The Rick Hansen spinal cord injury registry (RHSCIR): A national patient-registry
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
50
(pg.
22
-
27
)
DeVivo MJ, Go BK, Jackson AB. Overview of the national spinal cord injury statistical centre database. J Spinal Cord Med. 2002;25:335–338.
,
Overview of the national spinal cord injury statistical centre database
,
J Spinal Cord Med.
, vol.
25
(pg.
335
-
338
)
Albert T, Ravaud J-F; the Tetrafigap group. Rehabilitation of spinal cord injuries in France: A nationwide multicentre study of incidence and regional disparities. Spinal Cord. 2005;43:357–365.
,
the Tetrafigap group. Rehabilitation of spinal cord injuries in France: A nationwide multicentre study of incidence and regional disparities
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
43
(pg.
357
-
365
)
Wyndaele M, Wyndaele J-J. Incidence, prevalence and epidemiology of spinal cord injury: What learns a worldwide literature survey? Spinal Cord. 2006;44:523–529.
,
Incidence, prevalence and epidemiology of spinal cord injury: What learns a worldwide literature survey?
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
44
(pg.
523
-
529
)
DeVivo M, Biering-Sorensen F, Charlifue S, et al. International spinal cord injury core data set. Spinal Cord. 2006;44:535–540.
,
International spinal cord injury core data set
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
44
(pg.
535
-
540
)
Lee BB, Cripps RA, Woodman RJ, et al. International classification of external cause of injury, the WHO’s family of international classifications and maps to the 9th & 10th revisions of the international classifications of disease. Spinal Cord. 2010;48:498–503.
,
International classification of external cause of injury, the WHO’s family of international classifications and maps to the 9th & 10th revisions of the international classifications of disease
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
48
(pg.
498
-
503
)
Biering-Sorensen F, Bickenbach JE, El Masry WS, Officer A, van Groote PM. ISCoS-WHO collaboration. International perspectives of spinal cord injury (IPSCI) report. Spinal Cord. 2011;49:679–683.
,
International perspectives of spinal cord injury (IPSCI) report
,
Spinal Cord.
, vol.
49
(pg.
679
-
683
)
This content is only available as a PDF.