Risk factors for 14-day rehospitalization following trauma with new traumatic spinal cord injury diagnosis: A 10-year nationwide study in Taiwan

This study looked at factors that increase the risk of patients being readmitted to the hospital within 14 days with a new diagnosis of traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) after initially being hospitalized for trauma. The study found that patients with less severe injuries, those transferred from other hospitals, and those treated by surgeons who may not specialize in neurotrauma were more likely to be readmitted with a new tSCI diagnosis. These findings suggest that delayed diagnosis of tSCI is not uncommon, especially in patients with less obvious injuries, and that improving diagnostic accuracy and timeliness is crucial.

• 1
  Interhospital transfer was a significant risk factor for 14-day rehospitalization with new tSCI diagnosis.
• 2
  Patients with severe or profound injuries were significantly less likely to be rehospitalized with a new tSCI diagnosis compared to those with minor or moderate injuries.
• 3
  Injuries at the thoracic, lumbar, and multiple levels were significant risk factors for 14-day rehospitalization with new tSCI diagnosis compared to injury at the cervical level.