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Study Design.

Retrospective observational study utilizing prospectively collected population-based data.

Objective.

To describe the epidemiology and demographics of all patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) treated at a single institution, which represents the sole referral center and specialized SCI unit for a population of 4 million people.

Summary of Background Data.

Although many studies report on the epidemiology of TSCI, studies in which patients are prospectively characterized in the acute setting with precise recording of their baseline neurological impairment are uncommon.

Methods.

Data on all patients admitted to a level 1 trauma center with TSCI between 1995 and 2004 were prospectively collected using a customized, fully relational, locally designed, spine database.

Results.

The incidence of TSCI averaged 35.7 per million and did not change substantially during 10 years of data collection …