Occupational spinal cord injury
Demographic and etiologic differences from non‐occupational injuries
Citation Manager Formats
Make Comment
See Comments

Abstract
Most spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are the result of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). There are no published reports specifically addressing SCIs that occur in the workplace. We report a cohort survey study examining the frequency and etiology of SCI in the workplace. Through a cooperative program, an evaluation of all SCIs seen in Colorado during a 5K-year period (January 1, 1986 through June 6, 1991) is presented. We report a detailed analysis of specific data of all SCIs occurring in the workplace. There were a total of 566, with 74 (13.1%) due to injuries that occurred during the course of employment. The most common cause of occupational SCI was falls, which occurred in 37 (50%), as compared with only 15.9% of non-occupational SCIs. Only 14 (18.9%) occupational SCIs resulted from MVAs, compared with 59.3% of non-occupational SCIs. Other major etiologies for occupational SCI included being hit by a falling object in 14 individuals (18.9%), gunshot wound in three (4%), skiing in one (1.4%), stabbing in one (1.4%), and other causes in four (5.4%). Construction occupations were over-represented in occupational SCIs with 41.9% of cases as compared with only 6.3% for the non-occupational group. Because of the large percentage of occupational SCIs, efforts should be aimed at educating workers in at-risk occupations to prevent this serious injury.
- © 1993 by the American Academy of Neurology
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
For assistance, please contact:
AAN Members (800) 879-1960 or (612) 928-6000 (International)
Non-AAN Member subscribers (800) 638-3030 or (301) 223-2300 option 3, select 1 (international)
Sign Up
Information on how to subscribe to Neurology and Neurology: Clinical Practice can be found here
Purchase
Individual access to articles is available through the Add to Cart option on the article page. Access for 1 day (from the computer you are currently using) is US$ 39.00. Pay-per-view content is for the use of the payee only, and content may not be further distributed by print or electronic means. The payee may view, download, and/or print the article for his/her personal, scholarly, research, and educational use. Distributing copies (electronic or otherwise) of the article is not allowed.
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
If you are uploading a letter concerning an article:
You must have updated your disclosures within six months: http://submit.neurology.org
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
Hemiplegic Migraine Associated With PRRT2 Variations A Clinical and Genetic Study
Dr. Robert Shapiro and Dr. Amynah Pradhan
Related Articles
- No related articles found.