Incidence and severity of acute complications after spinal cord injury

• Published in: Journal of neurosurgery. Spine Vol. 17; no. 1 Suppl; pp. 119 - 128
• Main Authors: GROSSMAN, Robert G, FRANKOWSKI, Ralph F, HODES, Jonathan E, AARABI, Bizhan, ROSNER, Michael K, GUEST, James D, HARROP, James S, BURAU, Keith D, TOUPS, Elizabeth G, CROMMETT, John W, JOHNSON, Michele M, FEHLINGS, Michael G, TATOR, Charles H, SHAFFREY, Christopher I, HARKEMA, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Charlottesville, VA American Association of Neurological Surgeons 01-09-2012
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anemia - diagnosis; Anemia - epidemiology; Anemia - etiology; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - diagnosis; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - epidemiology; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - etiology; Biological and medical sciences; Bradycardia - diagnosis; Bradycardia - epidemiology; Bradycardia - etiology; Female; Humans; Incidence; Injury Severity Score; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurosurgery; Orthopedic surgery; Pleural Effusion - diagnosis; Pleural Effusion - epidemiology; Pleural Effusion - etiology; Pneumonia - diagnosis; Pneumonia - epidemiology; Pneumonia - etiology; Prospective Studies; Respiratory Insufficiency - diagnosis; Respiratory Insufficiency - epidemiology; Respiratory Insufficiency - etiology; Severity of Illness Index; Spinal Cord Injuries - complications; Spinal Cord Injuries - diagnosis; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; spinal cord injury; Nervous system diseases; complications; morbidity and mortality; Mortality; Spinal cord trauma; Central nervous system disease; Complication; Spinal cord disease; Morbidity; Incidence
• ISSN: 1547-5654; 1547-5646
• DOI: 10.3171/2012.5.aospine12127

The aim of this multicenter, prospective study was to determine the spectrum, incidence, and severity of complications during the initial hospitalization of patients with spinal cord injury.
The study was conducted at 9 university-affiliated hospitals that comprise the clinical centers of the North American Clinical Trials Network (NACTN) for Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury. The study population comprised 315 patients admitted to NACTN clinical centers between June 25, 2005, and November 2, 2010, who had American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale grades of A-D and were 18 years of age or older. Patients were managed according to a standardized protocol.
The study population was 79% male with a median age of 44 years. The leading causes of injury were falls (37%) and motor vehicle accidents (28%). The distribution of initial ASIA grades were A (40%), B (16%), C (15%), and D (29%). Fifty-eight percent of patients sustained 1 or more severe, moderate, or mild complications. Complications were associated with more severe ASIA grade: 84% of patients with Grade A and 25% of patients with Grade D had at least 1 complication. Seventy-eight percent of complications occurred within 14 days of injury. The most frequent types of severe and moderate complications were respiratory failure, pneumonia, pleural effusion, anemia, cardiac dysrhythmia, and severe bradycardia. The mortality rate was 3.5% and was associated with increased age and preexisting morbidity.
Knowledge of the type, frequency, time of occurrence, and severity of specific complications that occur after spinal cord injury can aid in their early detection, treatment, and prevention. The data are of importance in evaluating and selecting therapy for clinical trials.