Study design: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected trauma database of a Level 1 (tertiary) trauma center.

Objective: To define the features of the cervical spinal injuries in polytrauma population admitted to the regional trauma unit.

Setting: Canada, Ontario Province, Toronto, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center.

Methods: All trauma admissions between 1987 and 1996 entered prospectively into a trauma registry database were studied for incidence, demographic and epidemiological details of cervical spine (cord and column) injuries.

Results: A total of 468 patients (66% male) with cervical spinal injury (CSI) from 1198 spinal injuries admitted to the regional trauma center were identified. Seventy-five per cent of the CSI involved were aged less than 50 years; nearly 30% were in the third decade alone. Overall, the commonest spinal level injured was C2 (27%) followed by C5 (22%). Older population (above 60 years of age) had C1+ 2 involved more often than the young (P= 0.02). Motor vehicular crashes (MVC) accounted for 71%, followed by pedestrian trauma (10%), sport injuries (7%). Spinal cord injury (SCI) was noted in 27%; complete in 16% and incomplete in 11% and more frequently at C4 or C5 level compared with C1, C2 (P< 0.00001); the former level had more often a complete SCI (P= 0.06). Though MVC produced 74% of SCI, only 27% had neurological deficits. Recreational trauma produced SCI in 45%, motor cycle crashes (MCC) in 37% and a rear passenger in MVC in 34% that was complete in 78%, 71% and 73% respectively. Front seat passenger and driver in MVC had a C5 level injury while a rear seat passenger had at C4 (P< 0.001). The C1 level injury had high association with severe and life threatening head and neck and facial injuries compared with the more frequently injured spinal levels; either C2 (P= 0.03) or C5 (P= 0.004). Similarly C1 injuries had higher ISS compared with C2 (P< 0.0001) and C5 (P< 0.008).

Conclusions: C2 was the commonest fractured spine while SCI was more frequent at C5. Older and pedestrian population had higher incidences of injuries at C1 and C2. Sport and MCC resulted in severe SCI. The level of spine injured was different between a front and a rear seat occupant in MVC.