CHARACTERIZATION OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS WHO HAD SPINAL TRAUMA

Abstract

Objective: To outline the epidemiological profile of victims of traffic accidents who had spinal cord injury (SCI) as regards socio-economic and physical-motor variables, verifying the relationship between complications of trauma and compromised quality of life of these victims due to ulcers pressure, urinary incontinence, autonomic dysreflexia, spasticity and pain syndromes. Materials and Methods: This was an observational and retrospective study whose sample consisted of 32 individuals who answered a semi-structured and standardized questionnaire. Inclusion criteria were adopted: presenting SCI caused by traffic accident, being an adult and living in João Pessoa. Results: The sample consisted of 32 adults; 20 of these (65.2%) were males and 23 (72%) had more than four years of schooling. In addition, they all had complications after trauma with compromised quality of life. Conclusion: It is expected to open a humanized look into the population studied here, guide health professionals to new researches due to the lack of significant epidemiological studies, as well as to support public polices focused on prevention of SCI. DESCRIPTORS: Nursing. External causes. Epidemiology. Accidents, Traffic. Spinal Injuries.