Medical rehabilitation of the patients with spinal cord injury caused by aortic aneurysm and its operation.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the natural course of spinal cord injury (SCI) after aortic aneurysm surgery.


METHODS
Acute care and semi-acute wards in Osaka Rosai Hospital, Japan.


METHODS
From 1998 to 2003, 12 patients with thoracic SCI (eight men and four women; mean age: 69 years) were enrolled and evaluated by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale and Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and the results were analyzed.


RESULTS
The level of SCI was distributed from T5 to L1. The ASIA impairment scale was A in four patients, B in four, C in three and D in one. Finally, six patients were discharged to home, and two patients died during hospitalization. Excluding the value of the deceased patients, the mean motor FIM was initially 32+/-15.6 (13-59) points and became 61+/-21.4 (29-88) points at discharge. Referencing the databases of SCI in Japan and USA revealed that the complication rates of pneumonia and aspiration were higher in our cases. The motor FIM before rehabilitation and at discharge were relatively lower than in the databases, but the gain and the rate of gain were similar to the Japanese database.


CONCLUSIONS
SCI associated with aortic aneurysm surgery was noticed especially in the elderly patients using airways (for example, tracheostomy). The higher age and recurrent nerve palsy were associated with deconditioning state to develop aspiration pneumonia. This state impaired the general condition, and such vicious cycle led to poor prognosis and functional outcome.
Ohsawa
S
S
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Osaka Rosai Hospital, Osaka, Japan. oosawa-suguru@sumitomo-hp.or.jp
Tamaki
M
M
Hirabayashi
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*