title: Neurological outcome, working capacity and prognostic factors of patients with SCIWORA.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective case review.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, the neurological outcome, retirement and prognostic factors of patients with spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Swiss national work accident insurance database.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical histories of 32 patients who were insured by the Swiss Accident Insurance Fund (SUVA) and had SCIWORA between 1995 and 2004 were evaluated thoroughly. Moreover, all available magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the last follow-up, none of the patients had complete spinal cord injury, only 4 patients had severe deficits and 12 patients had normal motor and sensory function in the neurological examination. However, only 7 out of 32 patients had returned to full-time work and 10 out of 32 patients were fully retired. Both the presence of spinal cord change (ρ=0.51) and higher maximum spinal cord compression (ρ=0.57) in MRI scan correlated with the likelihood for retirement; older age (ρ=0.38) and physical load of work (ρ=0.4) correlated with retirement to a lesser extent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the neurological outcome of SCIWORA is mostly good, the retirement rate is high. Presence of spinal cord change and severity of cord compression are the best predictors for the degree of retirement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Neva
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Roeder
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Felder
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kiener
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perler
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000639:trends; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation; D055815:Young Adult