Neurotrauma From Border Wall Jumping: 6 Years at the Mexican–American Border Wall

Abstract

BACKGROUND The border between the United States (US) and Mexico is an international boundary spanning 3000 km, where unauthorized crossings occur regularly. We examine patterns of neurotrauma, health care utilization, and financial costs at our level 1 trauma center incurred by patients from wall-jumping into the US. OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical and socioeconomic consequences from neurotrauma as a result of jumping over the US–Mexico border wall. METHODS Medical records of patients at (Banner University of Arizona Medical Center - Tucson) were retrospectively reviewed from January 2012 through December 2017. Demographics, clinical status, radiographic findings, treatment, length of stay, and financial data were analyzed for all patients suffering neurotrauma during that time. RESULTS Over 6 yr, 64 patients sustained cranial or spinal injuries directly from jumping or falling onto US soil from the border wall. Fifty (78%) suffered spinal injuries, 15 (23%) experienced cranial injury, and 1 patient had both. Total medical charges were available in 36 patients and summed $3.6 M, of which 22% was reimbursed, an amount significantly lower than expected from more conventional trauma. Neurotrauma steadily declined over the 6-yr observation period, dropping in 2017 to 6% of rates observed in 2012. CONCLUSION In the Southern US, neurotrauma from unauthorized border crossings occurs commonly as a result of wall-jumping. These injuries represent a clinical and costly extreme of border-related trauma, and future efforts from both sides of the border wall are needed to decrease the detrimental impacts felt both by immigrants and surrounding health care systems.

The mechanism and pattern of injuries of undocumented immigrants crossing the Texas-Mexico border along the Rio Grande Valley

“…Spine injuries were observed more than intracranial injuries. Compression and burst fractures caused by high fall injuries, particularly when landing feet first, have been previously described this patient population (Ramey et al, 2019;Mclean & Tyroch, 2012). We noticed similar rates, with the thoraco-lumbar spine being the most commonly injured region.…”

“…This suggests undocumented immigrants cross natural and/or manmade barriers before being apprehended. Similar to prior studies, young adult males from Latin American countries made up the majority of study population (Ramey et al, 2019;Mclean & Tyroch, 2012).…”

“…To the best of our knowledge, this is the first retrospective chart review at a trauma center in the Rio Grande Valley region that describes the various trauma mechanisms and injuries sustained by undocumented immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Border fencerelated injuries were the most common, like previous studies (Ramey et al, 2019). On the other hand, it has not been previously reported that injuries while fleeing from U.S. CBP agents were also a common mechanism, along with MVAs.…”

“…There has been no similar study in the Rio Grande Valley, where the relative share of apprehensions has rapidly grown to approach 50% of all apprehensions in the past decade. The fence located along the Southwestern Border in the Rio Grande Valley is a steel barrier 7 m tall, cemented into a 1-m-wide trench (Ramey et al, 2019). Once undocumented immigrants cross this barrier, they risk apprehension by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (U.S. CBP) agents for illegal entry.…”

“…There are two ACS verified Level II trauma centers located in the Rio Grande Valley region, and the nearest Level I trauma center is over 300 km away. Previous literature related to this topic have come from urban Level I trauma centers that are academic institutions in California, Arizona, and West Texas (Kelada et al, 2010;Koleski et al, 2019;Ramey et al, 2019;Mclean & Tyroch, 2012).…”