Central Nervous System Injury hospital discharges in rehabilitation units of Veneto Region (Italy)

Introduction Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and spinal cord injuries (SCI) are an important public health problem in developed countries. Hospital records were reviewed to ascertain the epidemiology of TBI and SCI in north-east Italy. Methods The annual TBI-SCI-associated hospitalization rates were estimated by analyzing data collected from rehabilitation units. TBI and SCI were identified according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition. Results The hospitalization rate for TBI and SCI amounted to 6.8 per 100,000 overall, rising from 6.2 in 1997 to 8.4 in 1999. The distribution according to gender emphasizes that TBI and SCI follow a bimodal pattern in males, with a peak in young people and in the elderly; among females, on the other hand, there is a monomodal pattern with a peak in very old women. Conclusion The fact that TBI and SCI regard not just the young, but also the elderly population is significant for regional programming purposes. Special efforts should be made to further reduce motor vehicle accidents involving young people and welfare programs are needed to limit the risk of falls and contain functional impairment in the elderly.