Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with spinal cord injuries: Two years’ experience at a tertiary rehabilitation center

Abstract

Aim: We aim to define the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) attending the rehabilitation clinic of a tertiary rehabilitation center during the last two years. Material and Methods: Data of 24 SCI patients treated on an inpatient basis between January 2016 and January 2018 at our hospital were retrospectively evaluated. The age, gender, etiologic factor causing spinal cord injury, injury level, duration between admission to hospital and injury time, duration of hospital stay, and additional problems encountered during rehabilitation (pain, spasticity, compression wounds, and neurogenic bladder) of patients were recorded. The definition of spinal cord lesion was made according to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale. Results: Among 24 individuals with spinal cord injury, 62.5% were males (male: female ratio is 1.66 : 1). Mean age was 37.3±16 years. The mean duration of hospitalization was 45±16 days. Motor vehicle accidents and spinal cord operations were the main reasons for SCI. The most common neurological level of injury was between T10-12. Of all individuals, 63% had thoracic, 21% had lumbar and 16% had cervical lesions. Conclusion: The mean age of the SCI population is increasing. Motor vehicle accidents and spinal cord operations constitute the majority of etiologic factors. The male-female ratio is reducing. Thoraco-lumbar injuries are more common than cervical injuries.