Spinal Cord Injury in Bangladesh: An 11 Year Single Centre Epidemiological Study

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) cause severe, lasting functional impairments and place a significant burden on healthcare systems, especially in developing countries. This retrospective study analyzes epidemiological and demographic data from 3,575 individuals with SCI admitted to the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in Bangladesh between 2011 and 2021. Data were collected from patient records, and consent was obtained via phone or in-person. Traumatic SCIs accounted for 92.7% (n=3,155) of cases, primarily caused by falls (56.3%, n=2,014) and road traffic accidents (25.0%, n=892). Most participants were male (85.7%, n=3,065). Paraplegia was the most common condition (58.9%, n=2,104), while tetraplegia was more prevalent in road traffic accident cases (53.7%, n=479). Mortality was 8.7% (n=312), mainly due to pressure sores (39.1%, n=122). Non-traumatic SCIs accounted for 11.8% (n=420), mostly caused by spinal tumors (4.4%, n=157) and transverse myelitis (3.4%, n=121). Among 46 cases of Potts disease, females predominated (60.9%, n=28). Geographically, 40.5% (n=1,446) of cases were from the Dhaka division, with Dhaka city reporting the highest number (n=300). These findings offer valuable insights into SCI patterns in Bangladesh and underscore the need for targeted prevention and rehabilitation efforts.