Medical Student Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Disclosure(s):
Emily K. Vallee, B.S.: No financial relationships to disclose
Introduction: Central cord syndrome (CCS) is the most common type of incomplete spinal cord injury, typically resulting from a traumatic cervical hyperextension injury, leading to spinal cord impingement. The objective of this study is to explore the variety of demographics and social determinants of health in patients who sustain a traumatic spinal cord injury resulting in CCS.
Methods: 118 patients who presented at a Level 1 trauma center between September 2015 and March 2023 with CCS were included. Demographics, mechanism of injury, intrahospital data, and treatment course were collected. Area Deprivation Index (ADI) state and national percentiles were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed utilizing SPSS Statistical Analysis Software. Statistical significance was set to p≤0.05.
Results: The median age of the 118 patients was 61.0 (IQR: 21) years, and 87 (73.7%) were male. The most common race identified was White (N=80, 67.8%), followed by Black (N=28, 23.7%), and Asian (N=3, 2.5%). The most common mechanisms of injury were a fall (N=65, 24.4%) and motor vehicle crash (MVC) (N=30, 24.4%). ADI did not correlate with treatment outcomes such as intrahospital complications, 30-day complications, and length of stay (p = 0.633, p = 0.774, p = 0.071, respectively).
Conclusion : Within our patient population, there was no significant difference in socioeconomic status (SES) when comparing various comorbidities and health risk factors. This may be due to the traumatic nature of injuries leading to CCS. Our findings are specific to CCS primarily due to falls and MVCs which are likely less related to ADI. Nonetheless, we recommend continuously acknowledging and addressing health disparities, focusing on both upstream preventative measures in the community and downstream patient care disparities in clinical settings.