title: Retrospective case series of outcomes following spinal cord infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are very few studies of functional and rehabilitation outcomes in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) owing to infarction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review of consecutive admissions to a tertiary medical unit specializing in SCI rehabilitation, Melbourne, Australia. All admissions between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2008 with a recent onset of SCI owing to ischaemia were included. Outcome measures included the following: demographic characteristics, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS), length of stay (LOS), medical complications, accommodation, support services, continence, mobility and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor scores. Outcome measures recorded at admission, discharge and at 12 months post discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four patients were admitted for rehabilitation (men = 26, 59%), with a median age of 72 years (interquartile range [IQR], 62-79). On admission, 41 (93%) patients had paraplegia. The majority of patients (n = 33, 75%) had an incomplete SCI. Aetiology was vascular in 19 (43%) patients, idiopathic in 11 (25%) and other in 14 (33%). The median LOS in rehabilitation was 85 days (IQR, 24-129). The most common complications were pain (n = 34, 77%), urinary tract infection (n = 25, 57%), spasticity (n = 12, 27%), cardiac failure (n = 11, 25%) and pneumonia (n = 9, 20%). At rehabilitation discharge most patients (n = 35, 80%) had no change in their AIS grade. Despite this, the FIM motor subscale on admission (median = 28; IQR, 21-34) had significantly improved (P < 0.0000) by discharge (median = 66; IQR 42-78).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite their comorbidities and limited change in AIS, these patients had significant improvement in functional abilities during impatient rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Spinal Rehabilitation Unit, Caulfield Hospital, Alfred Health Epworth, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia. p.new@cgmc.org.au
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: New
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: McFarlane
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007238:Infarction / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome