ArticleSpinal cord2024
The impact of COVID-19 and associated lockdowns on traumatic spinal cord injury incidence: a population based study.
Article in Spinal cord, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evolving Global Burden of GBD-Defined Spinal Cord Lesions, 2014-2023: A Global Burden of Disease Analysis of the Geriatric Transition and Anatomical Distribution.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: A Six-Year Population-Based Retrospective Analysis.Research square · 2026Article
- Digital awareness in spinal cord injury: content and sentiment analysis of the 100 most viewed YouTube videos.Spinal cord · 2026Observational
- Epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury in Ireland, 2017-2022.Spinal cord series and cases · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
STUDY
designNatural experiment
objectivesTo determine whether COVID-19 restrictions were associated with changes in the incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in Scotland.
settingThe Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit (QENSIU), the sole provider of treatment for TSCI in Scotland.
methodsTime series analysis of all admissions for TSCI between 1st January 2015 and 31st August 2022.
resultsOver the 8-year study period, 745 patients were admitted to the QENSIU with a TSCI. Interrupted time series analysis showed that level 3 and 4 COVID-19 lockdown restrictions (the most severe levels) were associated with lower incidence of TSCI (RR 0.63, CI% CI 0.47, 0.82, p < 0.001). The associations were stronger in people aged over 45 (additive interaction p = 0.001), males (additive interaction p = 0.01) and non-tetraplegia (additive interaction p = 0.002). The incidence of TSCI due to deliberate self-harm was higher (0.41 versus 0.23 per month) during restrictions.
conclusionsOverall, TSCI incidence reduced in Scotland when lockdowns were implemented, presumably due to lower engagement in risky activities. The increase in TSCI due to deliberate self-harm may reflect increased mental health problems and social isolation and should be anticipated and targeted in future pandemics. The change in incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic may have an economic impact and see a temporary reduction in the burden on health and social care. The results of this study will be useful for resource planning in future pandemics.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.