[Clinical characteristics of spinal cord injury caused by infection].
BACKGROUND
Infections account for 3% of all non-traumatic spinal cord injuries. The demographic distribution and clinical course are still not fully understood in these patients.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the clinical-epidemiological characteristics and clinical course in patients with infectious spinal cord injury referred to our centre.


METHODS
A retrospective study (over the period 1997-2003) was carried out. Variables examined included age, sex, type of injury, aetiology, causing agent, ASIA classification on admission and discharge.


RESULTS
N = 27 (8% of the total number of non-traumatic spinal cord injuries). Mean age: 37.3 years (range: 14-75). Higher prevalence was found between the ages of 20 and 39 years (48.1%) and in males (70.4%). A prevalence of dorsal injuries (59.3%) was also observed. On hospital admission most of the injuries were incomplete (70.4%) and this figure increased to 77.8% on discharge. Spondylodiscitis was the most frequent cause (51.9%) and Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the most common microbiological causing agent. The greatest prevalence of complete injuries was observed in cases of dorsal injuries (43.75%). All cases of tuberculosis were situated in the dorsal region (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In our care centre, non-traumatic spinal cord injuries of an infectious origin seem to be most often caused by spondylodiscitis due to S. aureus, with a higher incidence in the dorsal region. They predominantly affect males in their thirties and forties, and usually give rise to incomplete injuries.
Morillo-Leco
G
G
Servicio de Rehabilitación, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Toledo, Spain. germanmorillo@yahoo.es
Alcaraz-Rousselet
M A
MA
Díaz-Borrego
P
P
Sáenz-Ramírez
L
L
Artime
C
C
Labarta-Bertol
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015299:Discitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000472:pathogenicity