Evidence-Based Nursing Research: Spinal Cord Injury Analysis

This report provides an overview of spinal cord injuries (SCI), focusing on the Australian context. It begins with an introduction defining SCI and highlighting its global impact, particularly in terms of morbidity and mortality. The report then delves into the incidence and causes of SCI in Australia, drawing on data from the Australian Spinal Cord Injury Registry (ASCIR) to present statistics on new cases, demographics of those affected (including age and gender), and the leading mechanisms of injury such as land transport crashes, falls, and water-related injuries. The report also categorizes SCI types into incomplete and complete injuries, as well as traumatic and non-traumatic causes, explaining the distinctions between them. Furthermore, the report highlights an Australian community resource, the SpinalHub website, designed to support individuals with SCI by providing information, education, and self-management strategies. The report concludes by emphasizing the significance of community resources in improving the health and quality of life for individuals with SCI and encourages further initiatives to support their recovery and community integration.

Running head: EVIDENCE BASED NURSING RESEARCH
Evidence based nursing research
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

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Introduction:
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) are types of traumatic injury caused by heavy motor vehicle
injury, high and low falls and heavy falling objects. Spinal cord injury results in significant
morbidity and mortality and has long-term health impact on injured individuals. Such injury is a
catastrophic event that is sudden and unexpected and can be costly in human and social terms too
(Chin, 2014). Globally, SCI affects males aged 18-32years in developing countries and it affects
males and females over 65 years in developed countries (Lee et al., 2014). This report provides
insight into the incidence and cause of spinal cord injuries in Australia and discusses types and
categories of spinal cord injuries. The report also reviews one Australian community resource
that is available for spinal cord injury patients.
Report on incidence and cause of spinal cord injuries in Australia:
The Australian Spinal Cord Injury Registry (ASCIR) is the national register that
publishes incident cases of spinal cord injuries occurring in Australia and for Australian residents
who resides overseas (aihw.gov.au, 2017). The most recent ASCIR report available for 2013-
2014 shows that 347 new cases of SCI were reported to the ASCIR and out of these, 111
occurred due to non-traumatic cases such as infectious conditions, cancer, vascular disorder, disc
herniation and myelopathy. The number of SCI occurring due to traumatic causes included 236
people and people above the age of 15 years reported such type of injuries (scia.org.au, 2014).
By analysis of incidence report based on demographics of injured people, it was found
that 81% of the cases of SCI were found in males and 23% of new cases were reported in people
between the age of 15-24 years. Land transport crashes (45%) was the leading mechanism of
injury followed by falls (32%) and water related injuries (10%). Motorcycle drivers were

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involved in almost 32% of land transport related SCI. Low falls resulted in 17% cases of SCI and
high falls accounted for 15% cases. The ASCIR also gives details on the activity being
undertaken at the time of injury. Based on this parameter, it has been found that 45% of
traumatic SCI cases occurred while the person was engaged in sport activity. This was followed
by activities like working for income and person engaged in unpaid work. 64% of traumatic
cases sustained an injury to the cervical spine (scia.org.au, 2014).
Types of spinal cord injury and the category of injury:
There are two broad types of SCIs such as incomplete spinal injuries and complete spinal
injuries. In case incomplete injury, the spinal cord is partially damages allowing the person to
retain some function. In contrast, complete spinal cord injuries are those type of injuries where
spinal card is fully damaged limiting overall function of affected individual. However, the
function may be retained after extensive treatment and physical therapy (Volpe, 2018).
Incomplete SCI is the most common form of injuries and this is seen due awareness about
responding to such injuries and availability of better treatment for injured individuals. Some
example of incomplete SCI includes anterior cord syndrome and the central cord syndrome.
The type and level of injuries also differs based on the cause of injuries. SCI is
characterized as non-traumatic injuries when it occurs as a result slow internal damage to the
spinal cord region. It is classified as traumatic injury when it causes by abrupt traumatic hit to the
spine region resulting in severe damage of the spinal cord. Motor vehicle accidents, falls and
sports related injuries are examples of traumatic spinal cord injuries. Infection, cancer,
inflammation and degeneration of the spinal column are examples of non-traumatic spinal cord
injuries (Magee, 2014).

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A spinal cord injury occurs when injuries result in disruption of blood and oxygen supply
to the spinal cord. It is categorized into two types of injuries depending on the location of
damage to the spinal cord. The first category of injury is called quadriplegia or tetraplegia that
results in partial or complete paralysis of the upper and lower portion of the body such as legs
and hands. It is also called as neck injury. Paraplegia is defined as a type of SCI injury that
affects lower portion of the body such as trunk and legs. This type of injury is also called as a
back injury. Another less prevalent condition is triplegia which causes loss of sensation and
movement in one arm and both legs (Nas et al., 2015).
Australian community resource for spinal cord injury patients
The SpinalHub website is one community resources that supports people with SCI in
Australia. It is a community website in Victoria and throughout Australia that acts as an
information and education tool for people with SCI. The website was developed as part of the
Victorian Spinal Cord Injury Programam (VSCIP), which is an initiative of the Department of
Health Victoria, the Department of Human Services Victoria, Alferd Health, Austin Healtg,
Worksafe Victorria and the Transport Accident Commission to implement activities that
maximizes benefit for Victorians with a SCI. The main aim of operating SpinalHub was to meet
all information and education needs of people with SCI and guide patients in positive self-
management of their SCI. The website has helped SCI people to get all details regarding support
equipment and self-management strategies that they can adapt to promote recovery. Hence, it
aimed to promote recovery of patients with SCI and improve their participation in community
works. Such type of resources can act as effective empowerment resources for affected
individuals and improve self-management practices too (Houlihan et al. 2017).

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Summary:
From the review of report on cases of spinal injuries in Australia, it can be concluded that
SCI is a traumatic injury that increase the burden of patient and health care system. By the
review of incidence and types of SCIs, it can be said that presence of appropriate community
resource is crucial to improve health and quality of life of such individual. The discussion
regarding SpinalHub website also shows how education and information can improve self-
management in spinal injury patients. More such initiative is needed in the community to ensure
that SCI people get the right resource to promote their recovery.

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References:
aihw.gov.au (2017). Australian Spinal Cord Injury Register (ASCIR). Retrieved from:
https://www.aihw.gov.au/about-our-data/our-data-collections/australian-spinal-cord-
injury-register
Chin, L.S.(2014). Spinal Cord Injuries. Retrieved from,
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/793582-overview
Houlihan, B. V., Brody, M., Everhart-Skeels, S., Pernigotti, D., Burnett, S., Zazula, J., ... &
Rosenblum, D. (2017). Randomized trial of a peer-led, telephone-based empowerment
intervention for persons with chronic spinal cord injury improves health self-
management. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 98(6), 1067-1076.
Lee, B. B., Cripps, R. A., Fitzharris, M., & Wing, P. C. (2014). The global map for traumatic
spinal cord injury epidemiology: update 2011, global incidence rate. Spinal cord, 52(2),
110.
Magee, D. J. (2014). Orthopedic physical assessment-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Nas, K., Yazmalar, L., Şah, V., Aydın, A., & Öneş, K. (2015). Rehabilitation of spinal cord
injuries. World journal of orthopedics, 6(1), 8.
scia.org.au (2014). Statistics. Retrieved from:
https://scia.org.au/living-with-a-disability/resources/statistics/
SpinalHub. (2017). About us. Retrieved from: http://www.spinalhub.com.au/resources/about-us

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Volpe, J. J. (2018). Injuries of extracranial, cranial, intracranial, spinal cord, and peripheral
nervous system structures. In Volpe's Neurology of the Newborn (Sixth Edition) (pp.
1093-1123).