Rekand T, Schaanning E E, Varga V, Schattel U, Gronning M
Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Spinal Cord. 2008 Jun;46(6):412-6. doi: 10.1038/sj.sc.3102158. Epub 2008 Jan 8.
A national retrospective descriptive study.
To study the clinical effects of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) caused by paragliding accidents in Norway.
Spinal cord units at Haukeland University Hospital, Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital and St Olav Hospital in Norway.
We studied the medical files for nine patients with SCI caused by paragliding accidents to evaluate the circumstances of the accidents, and clinical effects of injury. We obtained the data from hospital patient files at all three spinal units in Norway and crosschecked them through the Norwegian Paragliding Association's voluntary registry for injuries.
All patients were hospitalized from 1997 to 2006, eight men and one woman, with mean age 30.7 years. The causes of the accidents were landing problems combined with unexpected wind whirls, technical problems and limited experience with unexpected events. All patients contracted fractures in the thoracolumbal junction of the spine, most commonly at the L1 level. At clinical follow-up, all patients presented clinically incomplete SCI (American Spinal Injury Association impairment scores B-D). Their main health problems differed widely, ranging from urinary and sexual disturbances to neuropathic pain and loss of motor functioning. Only three patients returned to full-time employment after rehabilitation.
Paragliding accidents cause spinal fractures predominantly in the thoracolumbal junction with subsequent SCIs and increased morbidity. All patients experienced permanent health problems that influenced daily activities and required long-time clinical follow-up and medical intervention. Better education in landing techniques and understanding of aerodynamics may reduce the risk of paragliding accidents.
一项全国性回顾性描述性研究。
研究挪威滑翔伞事故导致的脊髓损伤（SCI）的临床效果。
挪威豪克兰大学医院、松纳斯康复医院和圣奥拉夫医院的脊髓病房。
我们研究了9例因滑翔伞事故导致脊髓损伤患者的病历，以评估事故情况及损伤的临床效果。我们从挪威所有三个脊髓病房的医院患者病历中获取数据，并通过挪威滑翔伞协会的自愿损伤登记处进行交叉核对。
所有患者于1997年至2006年住院，8名男性和1名女性，平均年龄30.7岁。事故原因包括着陆问题并伴有意外风旋、技术问题以及对意外事件经验有限。所有患者均在胸腰段脊柱交界处发生骨折，最常见于L1水平。临床随访时，所有患者均表现为临床不完全性脊髓损伤（美国脊髓损伤协会损伤评分B - D）。他们的主要健康问题差异很大，从泌尿和性功能障碍到神经性疼痛以及运动功能丧失。康复后只有3名患者恢复了全职工作。
滑翔伞事故主要导致胸腰段脊柱骨折，随后引发脊髓损伤并增加发病率。所有患者都经历了影响日常活动的永久性健康问题，需要长期临床随访和医疗干预。更好地开展着陆技术教育以及提高空气动力学知识的理解，可能会降低滑翔伞事故的风险。
