The relationship of blood alcohol concentration to impairment severity in spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and severity of neurological impairment.


METHODS
Retrospective cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Subjects with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI; N = 119) with dates of injury between 1991 and 2000 who received their acute treatment at a midwestern Model SCI Care System and for whom information regarding BAC was available.


METHODS



METHODS
severity of neurological impairment. Data were analyzed using chi2 tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA).


RESULTS
A significant association was observed between impairment severity and BAC.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that alcohol consumption is associated with severity of SCI. A more rigorous study controlling for trauma attributes is necessary to confirm these results and appraise whether alcohol has a potentiating effect on impairment. If borne out, the study's findings may lead to alterations in emergency room procedures and to changes in public health and education efforts resulting from a reframing of the issue of safe consumption of alcohol.
Forchheimer
Martin
M
University of Michigan, Model Spinal Cord Injury Care System, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0419, USA. forchm@umich.edu
Cunningham
Rebecca M
RM
Gater
David R
DR
Maio
Ronald F
RF
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014218:Triage
D000431:Ethanol