title: A 15-year follow-up of 406 consecutive spinal cord injuries.
abstract: A follow-up of 406 traumatic spinal cord injuries admitted from 1967 to 1982 is presented. Forty patients died, only two (5% of deaths and 0.5% of the series) from renal complications. Twenty-seven died from pulmonary or cardiovascular causes, complete and cervical lesions being the most significant factors in mortality. Early and continued active urological treatment aimed at the provision of low pressure bladder drainage to protect the upper tract. The management and results are critically discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery