| Trauma registry data was used to examine factors associated with the occurrence of spinal cord injuries among seriously injured drivers hospitalized between April 01, 1995 and March 31, 2001 due to a motor vehicle collision. There were 1753 seriously injured drivers; 117 (7%) had spinal cord injury and 1636 (93%) did not. The most important factor associated with spinal cord as opposed to other serious injuries was single vehicle rollover collisions (adjusted OR 6.59, 95% CI 4.00--10.85). When the effects of age, vehicle type, and roadway are adjusted for, male drivers are almost twice as likely as females to be involved in a single vehicle rollover collision (adjusted OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.27--2.08). This study indicates that single vehicle rollover collisions are strongly associated with the occurrence of spinal cord injuries after a passenger vehicle collision. Single vehicle rollover collisions are more common among males, pickup truck drivers and on rural roadways. |
