Gender differences in the clinical characteristics of traumatic spinal fractures among the elderly

In order to illustrate the epidemiology of traumatic spinal fractures among the elderly, with an emphasis on exploring gender differences in clinical characteristics, we retrospectively reviewed hospital records on all elderly patients with traumatic spinal fractures who were 60 years of age or older at two university-affiliated hospitals between January 2001 and December 2010. A total of 642 elderly patients with traumatic spinal fractures were identified, of whom 249 were male and 393 were female. Accidental falls from low heights were the most common cause of traumatic spinal fractures among the elderly (50.8%). Frequencies of falls from high heights and direct collisions with a blunt object were significantly higher in male than in female elderly patients (P < 0.05). Frequencies of falls from low heights, daily life injuries and jolt injuries in female patients were significantly higher than in male patients (P < 0.05). There were 984 vertebral body fractures, with the thoracolumbar segment involved in 60.3% of cases (227/984). Frequencies of cervical spinal fractures, spinal cord injuries, associated non-spinal injuries (ASOIs) and mean injury severity scores (ISSs) were significantly higher in males than in females (P < 0.05). Frequencies of thoracic and thoracolumbar spinal fractures in females were significantly higher than in males (P < 0.05). Clinicians should make their diagnoses and direct their injury prevention strategies according to gender differences in the clinical characteristics of traumatic spinal fractures among the elderly.