OBJETIVO: Fazer avaliação epidemiológica de 87 pacientes vítimas de traumatismo da medula espinhal, internados no hospital universitário da UFMA entre Janeiro de 2008 e Junho de 2009. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal retrospectivo, segundo: sexo; idade; segmento da coluna comprometido e causa do traumatismo, submetendo estes dados à análise estatística (teste do quiquadrado). RESULTADOS: predomínio significativo (p<0,001) do sexo masculino, com 81,6% (71) dos casos, e da faixa etária entre 21 e 30 anos de idade (p<0,001), com 39,1% (34) dos casos. A média de idade foi 33,96±13,56 anos. A proporção de quedas de altura foi significativamente maior do que a dos acidentes automobilísticos (p<0,001) e motociclísticos (p<0,001). O segmento da coluna significativamente (p<0,001) mais comprometido foi o torácico 37,9% (33) dos casos. Os acidentes de trânsito aparecem em maior proporção entre os homens (p=0,014). A coluna cervical foi mais acometida no sexo masculino (p=0,043). As fraturas toracolombares foram provocadas, em maior proporção, pelas quedas de altura (p=0,003), enquanto que acometimento da coluna torácica é significativamente maior (p=0,016) nos acidentes de trânsito. CONCLUSÃO: o grupo de maior risco para o traumatismo da coluna espinhal é o de adultos jovens masculinos. Apesar de existir uma diferença entre os sexos quando se correlacionam os acidentes de trânsito, a queda de altura é a principal causa em ambos os sexos.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate patients suffering from spinal cord injury METHODS: A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted with 87 patients admitted to the university hospital of UFMA between January 2008 and June 2009. We assessed sex, age, compromised segment of the spine and cause of injury, subjecting these data to statistical analysis (chi-square test). RESULTS: there was a significant prevalence of males (p <0.001), with 81.6% (71) cases, and age between 21 and 30 years of age (p <0.001), with 39.1% (34) of cases. The average age was 33.96 ± 13.56 years. The proportion of falls from height was significantly greater than the number of traffic (p <0.001) and motorcycle (p <0.001) accidents. The most compromised segment of the spine (p <0.001) was the thoracic (33), with 37.9% of cases. Traffic accidents appear in greater proportion among men (p = 0.014). The cervical spine was the most affected in males (p = 0.043). The thoracolumbar fractures were caused, to a greater extent, by falls from height (p = 0.003), whereas involvement of the thoracic spine was significantly higher (p = 0.016) in traffic accidents. CONCLUSION: The group at higher risk of injury to the spinal cord is the young adult male. Although there is a difference between the sexes when correlated traffic accidents, falling from height is the main cause in both sexes.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes and costs of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) surgery using a hand-made sling (Marlex®) versus a commerciallyavailable suburethral polypropylene sling (Advantage®). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine women with SUI due to bladder neck hypermobility and/or sphincter incompetence diagnosed by clinical examination and urodynamic studies were divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 19) consisted of patients from an academic center (Department of Urology, University Hospital of Federal University of Maranhao, and group 2 (n = 20) patients from private practice. The hand-made polypropylene suburethral sling was used in group 1 and the commercial sling in group 2. The patients were evaluated 30, 60 and 90 days after surgery. RESULTS: The mean duration of surgery was 43 min. in group 1 and 51 min. in group 2. No postoperative voiding difficulties were observed in group 1 (100%), as well as, in 94.7% of patients of group 2. A bladder catheter was not required in any of the patients of the two groups at the end of the study. The level of satisfaction was 100% in group 1, whereas, one patient of group 2 considered the surgery to be unsuccessful. Urodynamic studies showed low amplitude uninhibited contraction in 11.1% of patients of group 1 and 10.5% of group 2. No complications were observed in either group. CONCLUSION: The hand-made polypropylene mesh (Marlex®) can be used for sling procedures, saving costs and yielding results similar to that obtained with commercial sling systems.