Spinal cord injuries from diving and other water-related
accidents doubled between 1995-96 and 1996-97, according to a
report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare and the Flinders University of South Australia.
The report, Spinal Cord Injury, Australia 1996-97,
presents national statistics on new cases of spinal cord injury
from traumatic causes.
Of the 25 diving and water accidents resulting in spinal cord
injury, 40% were in the surf, 20% in swimming pools and 40% in
other water-related situations.
Report spokesperson Dr Raymond Cripps, from the AIHW's National
Injury Surveillance Unit at Flinders University, said it was
difficult to know what to make of the apparent increase in
water-related spinal cord injury over such a short period.
'We really need better information over a longer period to do a
proper analysis of this issue. There are a few gaps in the
information we have for earlier years, but we are hopeful of fixing
this with the help of the Directors of Australia's six specialist
spinal units.
'Over the recent summer there have been several anecdotal
reports in the media of an increase in water-related accidents-I
suspect that we may well see another rise in these figures in
1997-98.'
Dr Cripps said that diving and water-related accidents comprised
11% of spinal cord injury accidents compared with 27% for motor
vehicles, 23% from high falls, 11% from low falls (less than 1
metre), and 11% for unprotected road users (predominantly motor
cyclists).
'What is of potential concern is that water-related accidents
resulting in spinal injuries are highly prevalent in people in the
15-24 year age group. For this group they are second only to
transport accidents as the cause of spinal cord injury.'
'Another worry is that the spinal injuries from diving are
generally very severe. The number of cases of complete tetraplegia
from diving was the same as the number for motor vehicle
occupants.' (Tetraplegia is loss of function in the arms, legs,
trunk and pelvic organs).
Other findings in the report include:
- 45% of all spinal cord injury cases resulted in
tetraplegia
- The average length of stay in hospital for spinal cord injury
was 4 months.
- Males accounted for 80% of spinal injury cases.
17 June 1998
Further information: Dr Raymond Cripps, ph. 08
8374 0970 or 08 8322 2035 (ah).
General media inquiries: Nigel Harding, ph. 02
6244 1025.
For media copies of the report: Lena Searle, ph.
02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for details.