Complications in the long term in patients with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury Travmatik ve non-travmatik spinal kord yaralanmali hastalarda uzun dönemde görülen komplikasyonlar

Abstract

Aim: A number of complications may be encountered in the long-term in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI). The aim of this study was to compare frequency of long term complications in patients with traumatic and non-traumatic SCI. Material and Methods: Medical records of the patients monitored by private outpatient clinic of SCI have been analyzed retrospectively. 79 patients -33 women and 46 men- who had SCI at least 4 years ago, were included in the study. All the patients' causes of SCI, clinical data, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scores, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores and complications which encountered in the follow up period were noted. Results: There were no differences between the two groups in terms of ASIA and FIM scores (p> 0.05). Most frequent complications observed in patients were: urinary infection (46.8%), pressure ulcers (41.8%), constipation (34.2%), depression (32.9%), and contracture of at least one joint (16.5%). When the patients' SCI causes were evaluated, it is determined that; 59 patients had traumatic causes and 20 patients had non-traumatic causes in total of 79. Comparison of traumatic and non-traumatic SCI groups shows no significant difference concerning the first four complications which can make statistical analysis (p>0.05). Conclusion: Although it was stated that, complication frequency is low in non-traumatic SCI patients compared traumatic SCI in short term, according to our results, complication frequency is similar between the groups in chronic period. Rehabilitation specialists should concentrate on complications which can be seen in both SCI groups. Copyright © 2008 by Tūrk Tibbi Rehabilitasyon Kurumu Derneǧi.