title: Morbidity following lower extremity fractures in men with spinal cord injury.
abstract: The Veterans Affairs Spinal Cord Dysfunction Registry from 2002 to 2007 was reviewed to determine whether men with spinal cord injury (SCI) and lower extremity fractures had an increased risk of complications compared to those without fractures. We determined that fractures are associated with significant consequences, particularly during the first month postfracture.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Despite increasing longevity, patients with SCI have a substantial number of illnesses and comorbid conditions. Lower extremity fractures are frequent events in these patients. However, whether these fractures are associated with any increased risk of complications in SCI is not certain. The purpose of this report was to determine the impact of lower extremity fractures on morbidities in men with SCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-based, nested, case-control (1,027 cases and 1,027 propensity-matched controls) of men enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Spinal Cord Dysfunction Registry from fiscal years 2002 to 2007 was reviewed to determine whether lower extremity fractures were associated with an increased risk for complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In propensity score models matched for demographic (age, race) and SCI-related injury factors (level/completeness of SCI), Veterans Affairs-service connection status, and comorbidities, at 1 month following the fracture, there was an increased risk for respiratory infections, pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, thromboembolic events, depression, and delirium (p ≤ 0.03 for all). Over 12 months, the only complication more common in fracture cases was pressure ulcers (p < 0.01), with an absolute difference of less than 2 % when compared to controls. There was no significant increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias at any time examined following fracture (≥0.12).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower extremity fractures are associated with significant consequences in men with SCI during the first month postfracture, but they do not persist for a long term, except for pressure ulcers. Targeted interventions to prevent complications should be considered following lower extremity fractures in SCI, particularly in the first month following fracture.
authors: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. lcarbone@uthsc.edu
authors: L D
authors: LD
authors: Carbone
authors: A S
authors: AS
authors: Chin
authors: S P
authors: SP
authors: Burns
authors: J N
authors: JN
authors: Svircev
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Hoenig
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Heggeness
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Weaver
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003693:Delirium / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012042:Registries; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
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