Results: Epidemiology

TOTAL NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS: 317

(percentage figures rounded to nearest integer; those less than 1% excluded)

AGE GROUPS:

30-40	16 (5%)
40-50	55 (7%)
50-60	124 (39%)
60-70	84 (27%)
70-80	36 (11%)
80-90	2

GENDER:

MALE	94 (30%)
FEMALE	223 (70%)

TIME SINCE DIAGNOSIS (YEARS)

Unspecified	17 (5%)
1-5	87 (27%)
5-10	80 (25%)
MORE THAN 10	133 (42%)

LEVEL OF LESION (S):

LUMBAR	277 (87%)
LUMBAR LESION ONLY	186 (59%)
THORACIC	75 (24%)
CERVICAL	62 (20%)
WIDESPREAD	131 (41%)
CRANIAL	43 (14%)

RISK FACTORS:

TRAUMA	25 (8%)
STENOSIS	59 (19%)
SPINAL SURGERY	236 (74%)
OIL-BASED MYELOGRAM	183 (58%)
WATER-BASED MYELOGRAM	95 (30%)
UNSPECIFIED MYELOGRAM	63 (20%)
SPINAL/EPIDURAL ANAESTHETIC	73 (24%)
EPIDURAL STEROID INJECTION	193 (61%)
MENINGITIS (including chemical)	23 (7%)
CHYMOPAPAIN	4
LUMBAR PUNCTURE	7 (2%)
SUBARACHNOID HAEMORRHAGE	2
SPINAL TUMOUR: 3 + EPENDYMOBLASTOMA	1
DURAL TEAR/PUNCTURE/CSF LEAK	8 (2%)

FURTHER DATA ABOUT MYELOGRAMS:

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES WHO HAD A MYELOGRAM	267 (85% OF ALL RESPONDENTS)
SINGLE MYELOGRAM	146
MULTIPLE MYELOGRAMS	121
CASES WITH OIL-BASED ONLY	117 (44% OF TOTAL NUMBER OF MYELOGRAMS)
CASES WITH WATER-BASED ONLY	44 (16% OF TOTAL)
CASES WITH BOTH	49 (18% OF TOTAL)
UNSPECIFIED	57 (21% OF TOTAL)
CHEMICALLY INDUCED ARACHNOIDITIS (NO OTHER RISK FACTORS)	40 (13%)

MISCELLANEOUS ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS:

SYRINGOMYELIA	6=2%
ARACHNOID CYST	1
ARNOLD CHIARI MALFORMATION 1	1
PARS DEFECT:1 ; CONGENITAL BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD DEFECTS	1
SPINA BIFIDA OCCULTA	12=4%
TETHERED CORD: 3 + DIASTIGMATIC MYELIA	1
SPINAL ABSCESS	2
POST-OPERATIVE INFECTION (SPINAL)	2
TARLOV CYSTS	2
CONGENITAL KYPHOSCOLIOSIS	1

POSSIBLE ASSOCIATED FACTORS:

RHIZOLYSIS	2
RACZ PROCEDURE (HYALURONIDASE)	1
PREVIOUS SERIOUS VIRAL INFECTION (EBV*, HERPES ZOSTER**, HEPATITIS, ETC.)	41=13%
MUMPS ENCEPHALITIS	1
TUBERCULOSIS	4
POLIOMYELITIS	2 + 1?
OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASE:
LYME DISEASE	1
BRUCELLOSIS	2
RHEUMATIC FEVER	2
TYPHOID	1

Notes:

*EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS = GLANDULAR FEVER / INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS

**CHICKEN POX / SHINGLES

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Results: Epidemiology
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Summary
Thyroid Problems
RESEARCH SURVEY 1999: Undiagnosed Cases