International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health

Traumatic spinal cord injuries, their causes and levels of injury,and Patient Satisfaction among patients admitted in Paraplegic Center Peshawar

Background: It’s commonly said “When you break your back you actually break your family’’. In the present age spinal cord injuries are very common. Nearly 250,000 Americans are spinal cord injured which includes 52% paraplegics and 47% quadriplegics. Most common causes include road traffic accidents, violence, falls, and sports related etc.

Objectives: To determine the Causes of spinal cord injuries,Levels of spinal cord injuries,Age and Gender distribution,Mean age of patients,Patient satisfaction among patients admitted in the paraplegic center Peshawar

Method:- Cross sectional (record based) study was carried out in Paraplegic Centre Peshawar. Sample size was 70. Convenient sampling was applied. Duration of study was from nov 2010-may 2011.Bed side records of patients and questionnaire based interviews were done and analyzed in Microsoft Excel.

Results:-We collected the data from the bed side records of the patients (handicapped) in order to determine the type cause and level of spinal cord injuries both for male and female patients. Out of 81patients 65 were male and 16 were female. The facts were F.F.H (fall from height) (33%) contributed highest in the list of the causes followed by F.A.I (fire arm injury)(27%) AND R.T.A (Road Traffic Accidents)(24%). Cervical injuries were (15%), thoracic injuries were (78%) and lumber injuries were (7%). Mean age of patients was 32±8. Among 81 patients 70 questionnaire based (PSQ 3 modified plus translated into Pashto) interviews from the patients were done. We analyzed and came up to the opinion that patients admitted they were quite satisfied with the medical treatment provided to them.

Conclusion:- We concluded that patients were quite satisfied for the medical care including the facilities, adequate time to the patients, and proper attention by the HEAD, physiotherapists, andparamedic staff. Spinal cord injuries are very high and need proper awareness, and preventive measures to reduce the incidence and prevalence of spinal cord injuries.

Author(s): Majid Khan Kakakhel , Umair Latif, Taimur Khan

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