Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41731066›Full record

SynthesisSpinal cord2026

Shifting demographics, characteristics, and outcomes of traumatic spinal cord injury. A systematic review.

Ayesha I Quddusi, Jefferson R Wilson, Julio C Furlan, Paula Klurfan, Jiawen Deng, Haseeb Waheed, Raman Abbaspour, Gregor Fischer, Negeen Halabian, Michael G Fehlings

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Spinal cord, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Ayesha I QuddusiDivision of Neurosurgery & Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Jefferson R WilsonDivision of Neurosurgery & Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Julio C FurlanInstitute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Paula KlurfanDivision of Neurosurgery & Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-6481-2329
Jiawen DengInstitute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Haseeb WaheedAga Khan University Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
Raman AbbaspourInstitute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Gregor FischerSpine Center of Eastern Switzerland, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Medical School of St.Gallen, St.Gallen, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0003-0222-2742
Negeen HalabianInstitute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Michael G FehlingsDivision of Neurosurgery & Spine Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. michael.fehlings@uhn.ca.ORCID 0000-0002-5722-6364

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

designSystematic Review

objectivesWe conducted a systematic review to analyse temporal trends in the epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) with a focus on patient age, SCI etiology, and baseline severity of SCI.

methodsFive databases were searched without any restriction of date, language, or region of publication. 27 studies were included in the final analyses spanning the years 1943-2022, conducted across Europe, North America, and Asia. Data were extracted based on mean age, frequency of SCI etiology, and baseline severity.

resultsA consistent trend of increasing mean age over time across regions was observed with an annualized mean age increase of +0.46, and pooled regression based increase of +0.30 years per year across all studies. Traffic accidents as an SCI etiology have decreased, while falls have not just increased but often surpass traffic accidents. Sports related SCIs showed mixed increase and decrease across time and regions. Baseline severity decreased, shifting towards incomplete SCI, particularly incomplete tetraplegia, and higher frequency of AIS D. Complete SCI and AIS A decreased in most studies.

conclusionThe typical individual with SCI is increasingly within the age range of 45-65 years. Etiology has shifted to low energy mechanisms like falls, and incomplete SCI is becoming common. The evolution of SCI requires further efforts for targeted prevention strategies, anticipatory health care planning, resource allocation and research, particularly in the context of an increasingly aging population. Future studies should include underrepresented regions as well as low- and middle-income countries.

Indexed as

Spinal Cord InjuriesAccidents, TrafficDemographyEuropeHumansNorth America

Identifiers

PMID41731066

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.