The Epidemiology of Sport-Related Spinal Cord Injuries in the Gulf Region: A Systematic Review

TL;DR

This paper reviews the occurrence of spinal cord injuries from sports in the Gulf region to improve understanding and care.

Contribution

The paper highlights the need for better organized databases and more research on sports-related spinal injuries in Gulf countries.

Findings

Sport-related spinal cord injuries are a significant health issue in the Gulf region.

Cycling and diving are notable causes of spinal injuries in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

A coordinated database is needed to better track and study these injuries.

Abstract

Traumatic spinal cord injuries (TSCIs) can lead to life-threatening consequences and neurological deficits. Sports activities significantly contribute to the incidence of these injuries. It is important to understand the epidemiology of sport-related spinal cord injuries (SCIs) in the Gulf region to improve patient care and increase awareness among this population. While studies from Saudi Arabia and Qatar have addressed SCIs related to both cycling and diving, we believe there is still significant scope for improvement in research on this topic. Special attention should be given to conducting retrospective studies across Gulf countries to establish a well-organized database.

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