Poster Presentation Sydney Spinal Symposium 2025

Incidence of Spine-Related Diagnoses in Danish Children: A Nationwide Registry-Based Study (#36)

Freja FGO Gomez Overgaard 1 2 3 , Mette MW Wod 4 5 , Lise LH Hestbæk 6 7 , Henrik HHL Hein Lauridsen 7 , Søren SON O'Neill 2 3 , Michael MS Swain 1 , Casper Nim 2 3 7
  1. Department of Chiropractic, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  2. Medical Spinal Research Unit, Spine Centre of Southern Denmark, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Kolding, Southern Denmark, Denmark
  3. Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Southern Denmark, Denmark
  4. Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Southern Denmark, Denmark
  5. Research Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Southern Denmark, Denmark
  6. The Chiropractic Knowledge Hub, Odense, Southern Denmark, Denmark
  7. Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Southern Denmark, Denmark

Introduction and aim: In Denmark, approximately 20% of children experience spinal pain. However, the incidence of spine-related diagnoses and healthcare utilization patterns is poorly understood. This study aimed to quantify the quarterly incidence rates (IRs) of spine-related diagnoses among Danish children from 2009 to 2021

Methods: A nationwide, registry-based cohort study in Denmark included all children under 18 years from 2009 to 2021. Incident cases were identified using spine-related ICD-10 codes in the Danish National Patient Registry. Quarterly IRs per 100,000 children were calculated and then stratified by geographical region, diagnostic category, and hospital departments.

Results: From 2009 to 2021, 43,073 children received spine-related diagnoses. The overall IR increased from slightly 63.1 (95% confidence interval (CI): 60.6, 65.6) to 63.9 (95% CI: 61.4, 66.6) per 100,000 children explained by increases in the Capital Region. IRs of regional pain (e.g., non-specific back pain) diagnoses increased from 14.2 (95% CI 12.2, 16.3) to 28.9 (95% CI 25.9, 32), whereas whiplash diagnosis decreased from 24.4 (95% CI 21.7, 27.2) to 13.8 (95% CI 11.7, 15.9). Orthopedic (51%) and pediatric (14%) departments were the most common providers of diagnoses.

Conclusion: Pediatric spine-related diagnoses in Denmark are relatively uncommon, with consistent incidence rates over 13 years. Interestingly, the use of whiplash diagnostic codes has decreased, while regional pain codes have become more prevalent, suggesting shifts in diagnostic coding practices. We recommend caution in primary care, including chiropractic practice, until better understood which children need hospital referrals, for what types of diagnoses, and at what stage of care.