Mortalité des blessés médullaires : évolutions récentes et disparités infranationales

Abstract

Spinal cord injury corresponds to damage to the spinal cord, resulting in a reduction in nerve impulses, with consequences for limb and organ function. Literature and data on spinal cord injury mortality and its causes do not reflect current trends in France because they are relatively scarce or outdated. The availability of the Système national des données de santé (SNDS) for research purposes offers an interesting way to describe mortality over time and by territory. This article provides an update on the mortality of spinal cord injured patients and prospects for a better understanding of the specific characteristics of this population. Despite the decline in mortality in the recent years, following the trends observed since the mid the 20th century, the results obtained confirm the excess mortality of these individuals compared with the general population. These nevertheless varies according to sex, age and cause of injury. As in the general population, there are disparities in mortality between French departments.

Keywords

• mortality
• spinal cord injury
• territorial disparities