Complications in patients with spinal cord injuries: a clinical study from a third level rehabilitation center in Turkey

Year 2019, , 550 - 556, 04.05.2019

Tuba Tülay Koca , Burhan Fatih Koçyiğit , Ejder Berk , Vedat Nacitarhan

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.395651

Abstract

Objectives: Normal lifespan can be achieved by avoiding
complications in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). We aimed to characterize our
spinal cord injured patients and to obtain necessary information to prevent
complications.

Methods: This retrospective,
cross-sectional study included 44 patients with subacute/chronic SCIs, who were
included in an inpatient rehabilitation program from 2012 to 2017. The
patients’ epidemiological data, etiology, neurological examinations,
complications, and accompaying conditions were analyzed. The neurological
level, functional ambulatory scale (FAS), and American Spinal Cord Injury
Association (ASIA) impairment scale were used for the classification of
patients.

Results: A total of 44 patients between 16 and 81 years of age
(median: 35) were included in the study. Of these, 65.9% were male. The most
common etiologies were falling down from a height (31.8%), spinal surgery
(29.5%), and traffic accidents (15.9%) respectively. When we look the
neurological status of these patients, FAS: 0 (38.6%) and ASIA: C (40.9%) were
the most common cases seen in the
population. Eighteen patients (40.9%) were wheelchair-bound. Urinary (34.1%),
dermatologic (29.5%), and psychiatric (22.7%) complications were the most
common in the patients. Patients with low FAS levels were young (in early
period), and their spasticity, urinary incontinence, and urinary and
dermatological pathologies were found to be high. The wheelchair-bound patients
were mostly young, and they had significantly high
urinary incontinence, urinary and dermatological pathologies.

Conclusions.
In our rehabilitation clinic, subacute/chronic
SCI diagnosis is most commonly seen in young men, with thoracic vertebrae being
the most common, followed by falling from a height. The most common
complications were urinary and dermatological pathologies. The present study found higher rates of
complications in patients with higher grades of injuries and in patients with
lower functional levels. 

Keywords

complication, morbidity, rehabilitation, spinal cord injury

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