Sex-related differences of rehabilitation outcomes of spinal cord lesion patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate sex-related differences of spinal cord lesion patients.


METHODS
Two hundred and eighty-one patients were included with evaluation of: lesion to admission time, aetiology, lesion level, associated injury, medical complications and surgical intervention, length of stay, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment and motor scores.


METHODS
ASIA impairment grade and ASIA motor scores; Barthel Index, Rivermead Mobility Index and Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury.


RESULTS
In the entire group female patients had a lower frequency of traumatic lesions, a lower frequency of complications at admission and a higher frequency of incomplete lesions (ASIA impairment C). In the matching cohorts comparison female patients showed the same neurological and functional recovery as male patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Gender does not seems to influence spinal cord rehabilitation outcomes despite the fact that men and women showed significant epidemiological differences. Further studies are needed to evaluate some aspects such as long-term bladder management and complications.
IRCCS Fondazione S Lucia, Rome, Italy. g.scivoletto@hsantalucia.it
Giorgio
G
Scivoletto
Barbara
B
Morganti
Marco
M
Molinari
D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome