Incidence of traumatic peripheral nerve injuries and amputations in Sweden between 1998 and 2006

• Background: To define the epidemiological pattern of nerve injuries and traumatic amputations in Sweden, 1998-2006, and investigate possible targets for emerging neural engineering and neuroprosthetic technologies. Methods: The Swedish Hospital Discharge Register was used as basis of information, including data from all public in-patient care, excluding out-patient data. ICD-10 codes were screened for nerve injuries and traumatic amputations of high incidence or in-patient care time. Selected codes, causing factors, age and gender distribution were discussed in detail, and potential targets for tailored solutions were identified. Results: Incidence rate was determined to 13.9 for nerve injuries and 5.21 for amputations per 100 000 person-yrs. The majority of injuries occurred at wrist and hand level although it could be concluded that these are often minor injuries requiring less than a week of hospitalization. The single most care consuming nerve injury was brachial plexus injury constituting, in average, 68 injuries and 960 hospital days annually. When minor amputations of fingers and toes were disregarded, most frequent site of amputation was between knee and ankle (24 patients / year). Conclusions: Based on analysis of incidence and care time, we find that brachial plexus injuries and lower leg amputations should be primary targets of these new technologies.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Traumatic nerve injury

Traumatic amputations

Epidemiology

Epidemiology

Epidemiologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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