title: Clinical complications in patients with severe cervical spinal trauma: a ten-year prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the complications due to severe acrescentar sigla após o nome (CST).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1997 and 2006, 217 patients (191 men and 26 women) were prospectively evaluated. The mean age was 36.75±1.06 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-five percent of the patients had medical complications. The most important risk factor was alcoholic beverage use. The most important associated injury was head trauma (HT). Patients with American Spine Injury Association (ASIA) A or B had a 2.3-fold greater relative risk of developing complications. Thirty-three patients (15.2%) died. Patients with neurological deficit had a 16.9-fold higher risk of death. There was no influence of age and time between trauma and surgery on the presence of complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of the patients, 45% had clinical complications and 7.5% had associated injuries; pneumonia was the most important complication; patient age and time between trauma and surgery did not influence the development of medical complications; neurological status was the most important factor in determining morbidity and mortality.
authors: Conjunto Hospitalar do Mandaqui, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: Egmond Alves Silva
authors: EA
authors: Santos
authors: Wenner Jorzino
authors: WJ
authors: Santos Filho
authors: Lucas Loss
authors: LL
authors: Possatti
authors: Lia Rita Azeredo
authors: LR
authors: Bittencourt
authors: Emílio Afonso França
authors: EA
authors: Fontoura
authors: Ricardo Vieira
authors: RV
authors: Botelho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices