The Primary and Secondary Causes of Hospitalizations During the First Five Years After Spinal Cord Injury

This study looks at why people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) are hospitalized in the first five years after their injury. It distinguishes between emergency department (ED) visits and planned inpatient (IP) admissions to understand the different health issues leading to hospitalization. The researchers analyzed data from a population-based registry and billing data to identify the most common primary and secondary diagnoses associated with hospital admissions. The findings highlight the importance of targeted prevention strategies, patient education, and early access to primary care to reduce hospitalizations for preventable conditions in people with SCI.

• 1
  In the first year after SCI, rehabilitation, septicemia, and chronic skin ulcers were the most frequent primary diagnoses for hospital admissions.
• 2
  Septicemia, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia were the leading causes of ED admissions, while rehabilitation and chronic ulcers of the skin were the leading causes of IP admissions.
• 3
  In years 2–5, septicemia and complications related to certain procedures (like urinary catheters) were more frequent in ED admissions, while chronic skin ulcers and rehabilitation were more common in IP admissions.