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Traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury: Demographic characteristics, neurological and functional outcomes. A 7-year single centre experience

Journal of Orthopaedics, 2021 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jor.2021.11.007 · Published: November 20, 2021

Spinal Cord InjuryRehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study looks at the differences between traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCI) in terms of patient characteristics and how well they recover after rehabilitation. The research found that non-traumatic SCI patients were generally older and had more severe conditions when they were admitted to the hospital, but both groups showed similar improvements after rehabilitation. The study concludes that understanding the cause of the SCI is important for planning effective rehabilitation programs, as older age and non-traumatic injuries can affect the extent of functional recovery.

Study Duration
7 Years
Participants
112 SCI patients (75 male and 37 female)
Evidence Level
Not specified

Key Findings

  • 1
    NT-SCI patients were significantly older and affected by greater lesions when admitted than T-SCI ones.
  • 2
    FIM and BI outcomes are similar in both groups, even if T-SCI patients showed greater improvement when discharged.
  • 3
    Functional status on admission was the strongest determinant of LOS and completeness of the lesion was the strongest determinant of functional outcome.

Research Summary

The study aimed to evaluate demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and to analyze functional outcomes after rehabilitation. The study involved 112 SCI patients and neurological outcomes were evaluated according to the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) and by using length of stay, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Barthel Index (BI). The conclusion highlights the importance of considering the etiology of the injury when planning rehabilitation programs, as older age negatively influences disability and functional recovery, and non-traumatic lesions may have minor benefits compared to traumatic ones.

Practical Implications

Personalized Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation programs should be tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of patients with traumatic versus non-traumatic SCI, considering factors such as age and injury severity.

Focus on Early Intervention

Given the impact of lesion severity on admission, early and aggressive intervention may be crucial for improving outcomes, especially in non-traumatic SCI cases.

Address Complications

Targeted strategies should be implemented to prevent and manage complications like urinary tract infections, particularly in non-traumatic SCI patients.

Study Limitations

  • 1
    Limited sample size, particularly concerning the traumatic group.
  • 2
    Patients were treated in a non-specialized rehabilitation centre as well, and they were not stratified based on spinal levels.
  • 3
    We also do not provide long-term follow-up maintenance.

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