Nontraumatic spinal cord injury: demographic characteristics and complications.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the demographic characteristics and complications of nontraumatic spinal cord injury (NT/SCI), to compare patients who were admitted for initial rehabilitation with readmission rehabilitation patients, to compare our findings with those of other studies, and to develop a model to predict the length of stay (LOS).


METHODS
Retrospective, 3-year, case series.


METHODS
Tertiary medical unit specializing in SCI rehabilitation in Australia.


METHODS
Consecutive sample of 134 adult referred inpatients with NT/SCI (58% women; median age, 61y). Patients requiring initial rehabilitation or readmission were included.


METHODS
Chart review.


METHODS
Demographic characteristics, neurologic injury, etiology, comorbidities, and complications of NT/SCI.


RESULTS
The most common cause of NT/SCI was tumor (20.1%), but there were many different etiologies. Tetraplegia occurred in 32.8% of patients, and 56% had motor incomplete injuries. Most patients (63%) had at least 1 complication, including urinary tract infection (32.8%), pressure ulcer (31.5%), and pain (18.7%). Initial rehabilitation patients were significantly older (initial median, 69y vs readmission median, 54y; P=.0001). A multivariate model for LOS was able to predict 52% of the variance.


CONCLUSIONS
NT/SCI rehabilitation patients have a different demographic profile compared with traumatic SCI (T/SCI) patients and a lower prevalence of many of the complications that affect T/SCI patients. There are differences between initial and readmission patients.
New
Peter W
PW
Head Spinal Rehabilitation Unit, Caulfield General Medical Center Bayside Health, Melbourne, Australia. p.new@cgmc.org.au
Rawicki
H Barry
HB
Bailey
Michael J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000172:deficiency; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation*
D012709:Serum Albumin