Relationship between demographic characteristics, spinal impairment, and interventional strategies in the clinical outcome of spinal cord injury patients

Abstract

Background and aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the main causes of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI), along with the relationship between SCI patients’ demographic characteristics and related treatments. Methods: In general, 608 patients suffering from TSCI and referring to Ayatollah Kashani hospital, Shahrekord in 2016-2017 were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Patients’ demographic characteristics, level of injury, the severity of the injury, injury cause, and duration of hospitalization (DOH) were obtained according to their files and medical records. Several months after discharge, the patients were examined by a neurosurgeon, and the treatment outcome was recorded in specific checklists. Results: The mean age of the injured individuals was 34.2±16.9 years and the majority of the injured (70.2%) were males. ASIA grades E and D were also reported in 50.3% and 25% of the injured at admission, respectively. Further, grade E injury was observed in 77.1% of the injured at discharge. Medicinal, non-surgical, and surgical treatments were used for 53.8%, 25.8%, and 20.4% of patients, respectively. The levels of injury, treatment strategy, and clinical outcomes were significantly different based on the ASIA grades at admission (P<0.001, for all items). There was a significant difference among DOH (day) in terms of the level of injury, ASIA grades during admission, treatment strategy, and treatment outcomes in different individuals (P<0.001, for all items). Conclusion: Regarding the relationship between the treatment strategy, the ASIA grade, and the outcome of the treatment, it seems necessary to perform surgical or rehabilitative interventions for each person in accordance with demographic characteristics.