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Occupational spinal cord injury

Demographic and etiologic differences from non-occupational injuries

Center for Occupational Neurology and Neurotoxicology (Dr. Rosenberg), Colorado Neurological Institute, Englewood; and the Department of Medicine (Clinical Pharmacology), University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver; and the Research Department (K. Gerhart and Dr. Whiteneck), Craig Hospital, Englewood, CO.

Most spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are the result of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). There are no published reports specifically addressing SCIs that occur in the workplace. We report a cohort survey study examining the frequency and etiology of SCI in the workplace. Through a cooperative program, an evaluation of all SCIs seen in Colorado during a 5K-year period (January 1, 1986 through June 6, 1991) is presented. We report a detailed analysis of specific data of all SCIs occurring in the workplace. There were a total of 566, with 74 (13.1%) due to injuries that occurred during the course of employment. The most common cause of occupational SCI was falls, which occurred in 37 (50%), as compared with only 15.9% of non-occupational SCIs. Only 14 (18.9%) occupational SCIs resulted from MVAs, compared with 59.3% of non-occupational SCIs. Other major etiologies for occupational SCI included being hit by a falling object in 14 individuals (18.9%), gunshot wound in three (4%), skiing in one (1.4%), stabbing in one (1.4%), and other causes in four (5.4%). Construction occupations were over-represented in occupational SCIs with 41.9% of cases as compared with only 6.3% for the non-occupational group. Because of the large percentage of occupational SCIs, efforts should be aimed at educating workers in at-risk occupations to prevent this serious injury.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Neil L. Rosenberg, Colorado Neurological Institute, 799 E. Hampden Avenue, Suite 500, Englewood, CO 80110-2790.

Received August 28, 1992. Accepted for publication in final form November 9, 1992.

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