Jain teaches at Vanderbilt University.
By Dileep Thekkethil
Changes in the lifestyle of the elderly might be a reason for the increase in the number of traumatic spinal cord injuries, says an Indian American researcher.
Nitin Jain, associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Vanderbilt University, said the number of spine injury cases among the younger generation of Americans dropped during the period 1993-2012, but there is an astonishing spike in the number of spinal cord injury cases among the elderly in the same period.
The study has found that spinal injuries among men at the age 65-74 increased to 131 cases per million from 84 per million. It is also estimated that one out of five injured dies in the hospital due to complications. The study appeared in a Journal published by American Medical Association.
Jain, who is also the lead author of the study, said, “spinal cord injury is a major public health issue in older patients.” The researchers came to the conclusion after analysing spinal injury cases of 63 patients in 1993 to 109 cases in 2012, who had severe traumatic spinal cord injury.
Jain said, “We don’t really know the exact reason behind an increased incidence of falls that cause spinal cord injury.” But he noted the change in the life style of the elderly who according to him are much more active than their older generation could be a reason for the increase in the number of cases related to spinal cord injury. For example, 20 years ago, an elderly woman would have spent time crocheting whereas now they go out for treasure hunting or picnic.
The study has also found that the number of cases resulting in surgical procedures has also increased in the last decades. People who suffer traumatic spinal cord injuries have only a slender chance of complete recovery. In most cases, the patient if left disabled might require lifelong assistance to even do the basic needs. But in some cases, patients do make progress in their condition, but according to Jain, “most of these patients need health care services throughout their life, many of them pretty intensive.”