Traumatic spinal cord injury in Victoria, 2007–2016

Objective To investigate trends in the incidence and causes of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in Victoria over a 10‐year period. Design, setting, participants Retrospective cohort study: analysis of Victorian State Trauma Registry (VSTR) data for people who sustained TSCIs during 2007–2016. Main outcomes and measures Temporal trends in population‐based incidence rates of TSCI (injury to the spinal cord with an Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] score of 4 or more). Results There were 706 cases of TSCI, most the result of transport events (269 cases, 38%) or low falls (197 cases, 28%). The overall crude incidence of TSCI was 1.26 cases per 100 000 population (95% CI, 1.17–1.36 per 100 000 population), and did not change over the study period (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.01; 95% CI, 0.99–1.04). However, the incidence of TSCI resulting from low falls increased by 9% per year (95% CI, 4–15%). The proportion of TSCI cases classified as incomplete tetraplegia increased from 41% in 2007 to 55% in 2016 (P