Epidemiology of cervical spine fractures in the US military.

The epidemiology of cervical spine fractures and associated spinal cord injury (SCI) has not previously been estimated within the American population. To determine the incidence of cervical spine fractures and associated SCI and identify potential risk factors for these injuries in a large multicultural military population. Query of a prospectively collected military database. The 13,813,333 military servicemembers serving in the US Armed Forces between 2000 and 2009. The Defense Medical Epidemiology Database (DMED) was queried to identify all servicemembers diagnosed with cervical spine fractures with and without SCI during the time period under investigation. Data were used to determine the incidence of cervical spine fractures and SCI as well as identify risk factors for their development. The DMED was queried for the years 2000 to 2009 using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code for cervical spine fractures with and without SCI (805.0, 805.1, 806.0, and 806.1). The database was also used to determine the total number of servicemembers within the military during the same period. The incidence of cervical spine fractures and fractures associated with SCI was determined, and unadjusted incidence rates were calculated for the demographic characteristics of sex, race, military rank, branch of service, and age. Adjusted incidence rate ratios were then determined using multivariate Poisson regression analysis to control for other factors in the model and identify significant risk factors for cervical spine fractures and cervical injuries associated with SCI. From 2000 to 2009, there were 4,048 cervical spine fractures in a population at risk of 13,813,333 servicemembers. The overall incidence of cervical spine fractures was 0.29 per 1,000 person-years, and the incidence of fracture associated SCI was 70 per 1,000,000. The cohorts at highest risk of cervical spine fracture were males, whites, Enlisted personnel, those serving in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps, and servicemembers aged 20 to 29. Risk of fracture-associated SCI was significantly increased in males, Enlisted personnel, servicemembers in the Army, Navy, or Marines, and those aged 20 to 29. This study is the largest population-based investigation to be conducted within the United States regarding the incidence of SCI and the only study addressing incidence and risk factors for cervical spine fractures. Male sex, white race, Enlisted military rank, service in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps, and ages 20 to 29 were found to significantly increase the risk for cervical fractures and/or fracture associated SCI. Our findings support previously published data but also represent best available evidence based on the size and diversity of the population under study. Prognostic; Level II.

Schoenfeld AJ ，Sielski B ，Rivera KP ，Bader JO ，Harris MB ... -  《-》

Lumbar spine fractures within a complete American cohort: epidemiology and risk factors among military service members.

Schoenfeld AJ ，Romano D ，Bader JO ，Walker JJ ... -  《-》

Incidence and epidemiology of spinal cord injury within a closed American population: the United States military (2000-2009).

Schoenfeld AJ ，McCriskin B ，Hsiao M ，Burks R ... -  《-》

Incidence and epidemiology of cervical radiculopathy in the United States military: 2000 to 2009.

Schoenfeld AJ ，George AA ，Bader JO ，Caram PM Jr ... -  《-》

Combat-related gunshot wounds in the United States military: 2000-2009 (cohort study).

The armed forces of the United States are engaged in the longest conflict in their history. No prior works have described the incidence or epidemiology of gunshot wounds in the U.S. military. All combat-related gunshot wounds sustained by uniformed servicemembers in the years 2000-2009 were identified using the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database. Demographic information for all individuals identified as having sustained gunshot injuries was obtained and like data was captured for the entire military population serving in the same time-period. Raw unadjusted incidence rates were calculated for gunshot wounds within the entire demographic, as well as for the subcategories of sex, military rank, branch of service, and age. Adjusted incidence rate ratios were also calculated via multivariate Poisson regression analysis, using subcategories with the lowest unadjusted incidence rates as referents. We identified 4693 gunshot wounds within a population of 13,813,333 person-years for an overall incidence of 0.34 per 1000 person-years. Marine Corps service demonstrated the highest unadjusted incidence rate at 0.68 per 1000 person-years. Male sex, Junior Enlisted rank, Army and Marine Corps service, and ages 20-29 demonstrated significant adjusted incidence rate ratios and maintained unadjusted incidence rates above the population mean. Male sex, Junior Enlisted rank, Army and Marine Corps service, and ages 20-29 were identified as significant independent risk factors for war-related gunshot injuries. This investigation is the first to report on the incidence and epidemiology of gunshot wounds and includes the largest cohort of individuals to sustain such injuries in the literature.

Walker JJ ，Kelly JF ，McCriskin BJ ，Bader JO ，Schoenfeld AJ ... -  《-》