Ann Rehabil Med.  2023 Feb;47(1):4-10. 10.5535/arm.23020.

Spinal Cord Injury Fact Sheet in Korea

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
  • 2National Traffic Injury Rehabilitation Research Institute, National Traffic Injury Rehabilitation Hospital, Yangpyeong, Korea
  • 3Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
  • 4Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) has been recognized as a medically complex and life-disrupting condition. As the aging of the population accelerates, the trend of SCI has changed. This review aimed to provide comprehensive statistics and recent epidemiological changes in SCI and rehabilitation in Korea. All three insurance databases (National Health Insurance Service [NHIS], automobile insurance [AUI], and industrial accident compensation insurance [IACI]) were considered. These nationwide databases provide data on the current trends in term of incidence, etiology, and rehabilitation of SCI. Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) was more frequent among the elderly in the NHIS compared to working age individuals in the AUI and IACI. In all three trauma-related insurance databases, male with TSCI outnumbered female. TSCI incidence per year was approximately 17 times higher among males than females, on average, in IACI. In all three insurances, the cervical level of TSCI was the most frequent. Although the ratio of SCI patients receiving rehabilitation treatment at primary and secondary hospitals increased for nine years, the increase in training on activities of daily living (ADL training) was found to be relatively small. This review provides a broader and comprehensive understanding of the incidence, etiology, and rehabilitation treatment of SCI in Korea.

Keyword

Spinal cord injury; Epidemiology; Rehabilitation; Statistics

Figure

  • Fig. 1. Number of patients with traumatic spinal cords injury by age groups, insurance type in Korea. NHIS, National Health Insurance Service; IACI, industrial accident compensation insurance; AUI, automobile insurance. Adapted from Choi et al. J Korean Med Sci 2023;38:e26 [10].


Cited by  2 articles

Trends in the Incidence and Etiology of Non-Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Korea: A Nationwide Population-Based Study From 2007 to 2020
Yoonjeong Choi, Ja-Ho Leigh, Jooeun Jeon, Goo Joo Lee, Hyung-Ik Shin, Moon Suk Bang
J Korean Med Sci. 2023;38(18):e158.    doi: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e158.

Risk Factors for Suicidality in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Focus on Physical and Functional Characteristics
Sora Han, Wooyeung Kim, Onyoo Kim
Ann Rehabil Med. 2023;47(5):377-384.    doi: 10.5535/arm.23110.


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