Assessment and immediate management of spinal cord injury

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Finfer ◽  
Oliver Flower
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Spinal Injury ◽  
Thoracolumbar Spine ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Cervical Spine Injuries ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Thoracolumbar Spine Fractures ◽  
Cervical Injuries

Spinal cord injury is a potentially devastating injury, which may occur in isolation, but more commonly occurs in the setting of multiple injuries. Motor vehicle accidents and falls are the most common causes. Depending on the level of the injury and its completeness, patients may be left with paraplegia or tetraplegia. The injury may be immediately obvious based on history and clinical examination, but may have to be actively excluded in multiply-injured patients. Thoracolumbar spine fractures are almost always evident on plain X-rays, whereas computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is frequently required to exclude cervical spine injuries. Immediate management should be directed at the detection and treatment of life-threatening injuries. Patients should be transferred to a facility specializing in the management of spinal cord injury as soon as feasible. Acute management of the spinal injury itself is largely supportive and aimed at avoiding preventable secondary injury. Respiratory complications are common, and high thoracic or cervical injuries may lead to neurogenic shock. Early identification of the injury and appropriate management results in improved outcome, reducing disability and costs of long-term management.

Incidence and severity of acute complications after spinal cord injury

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (Suppl1) ◽  
pp. 119-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Grossman ◽  
Ralph F. Frankowski ◽  
Keith D. Burau ◽  
Elizabeth G. Toups ◽  
John W. Crommett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Spinal Injury ◽  
Vehicle Accidents ◽  
The North ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Study Population

Object The aim of this multicenter, prospective study was to determine the spectrum, incidence, and severity of complications during the initial hospitalization of patients with spinal cord injury. Methods The study was conducted at 9 university-affiliated hospitals that comprise the clinical centers of the North American Clinical Trials Network (NACTN) for Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury. The study population comprised 315 patients admitted to NACTN clinical centers between June 25, 2005, and November 2, 2010, who had American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale grades of A–D and were 18 years of age or older. Patients were managed according to a standardized protocol. Results The study population was 79% male with a median age of 44 years. The leading causes of injury were falls (37%) and motor vehicle accidents (28%). The distribution of initial ASIA grades were A (40%), B (16%), C (15%), and D (29%). Fifty-eight percent of patients sustained 1 or more severe, moderate, or mild complications. Complications were associated with more severe ASIA grade: 84% of patients with Grade A and 25% of patients with Grade D had at least 1 complication. Seventy-eight percent of complications occurred within 14 days of injury. The most frequent types of severe and moderate complications were respiratory failure, pneumonia, pleural effusion, anemia, cardiac dysrhythmia, and severe bradycardia. The mortality rate was 3.5% and was associated with increased age and preexisting morbidity. Conclusions Knowledge of the type, frequency, time of occurrence, and severity of specific complications that occur after spinal cord injury can aid in their early detection, treatment, and prevention. The data are of importance in evaluating and selecting therapy for clinical trials.

scholarly journals P.076 Epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury patients in New Brunswick

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (S2) ◽  
pp. S38-S39
Author(s):  
YZ Chishti ◽  
D Gaudet ◽  
C O’Connell ◽  
N Attabib
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Outcome Data ◽  
Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Surgical Interventions ◽  
Cervical Spine Injuries ◽  
Cord Injury

Background: Characteristics of traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) patients admitted to the Saint John Regional Hospital and the Stan Cassidy Center for Rehabilitation from 2011 to 2014 were examined. Methods: Demographic, neurological and functional outcome data for 18 patients, who had consented to participate in a database for tSCI in Canada, was obtained. Results: The majority of patients were male (88.9%), with a mean age of 41. 33 (SD=17.17). The most common causes of tSCI were motor vehicle accidents (41.2%) and falls (29.4%). Cervical spine injuries (70.6%) and an ASIA impairment scale classification of D (38.9%) predominated. The median latency from injury to surgery was 22.67 hours. Functional independence Measure scores (M=64.17, SD=25.84) indicated that motor/functional independence was impaired (M=32.44, SD=19.15) relative to cognitive independence (M=31.83, SD=4.07). Conclusions: The results suggest that characteristics of tSCI patients in New Brunswick are similar to the Canadian tSCI patient population. Emergency care appears to be delivered in a timely fashion. Both centers participate in research registries focused on collecting data related to tSCI, surgical interventions, and patient outcomes. Registries are valuable research tools that allow for an alternative way to examine the quality of care their patients receive.

scholarly journals Outcome in patients undergoing surgery for spinal injury in an Ethiopian hospital

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 772-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Andreas Lehre ◽  
Lars Magnus Eriksen ◽  
Abenezer Tirsit ◽  
Segni Bekele ◽  
Saba Petros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Spinal Injury ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Spine Injuries ◽  
Tract Infections

OBJECT The objective of this study was to investigate epidemiology and outcome after surgical treatment for spinal injuries in Ethiopia. METHODS Medical records of patients who underwent surgery for spine injuries at Myungsung Christian Medical Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, between January 2008 and September 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. Assessment of outcome and complications was determined from patient consultations and phone interviews. RESULTS A total of 146 patients were included (129 males, 17 females). Their mean age was 31.7 years (range 15–81 years). The leading cause of injury was motor vehicle accidents (54.1%), and this was followed by falls (26.7%). The most common injury sites were lumbar (41.1%) and cervical (34.2%) regions of the spine. In 21.2% of patients, no neurological deficit was present before surgery, 46.6% had incomplete spinal cord injury (American Spinal Injury Association [ASIA] Impairment Scale [AIS] Grade B-D), and 32.2% had complete spinal cord injury (AIS Grade A). Follow-up was hampered by suboptimal infrastructure, but information regarding outcome was successfully obtained for 110 patients (75.3%). At follow-up (mean 22.9 months; range 2–57 months), 25 patients (17.1%) were confirmed dead and 85 patients (58.2%) were alive; 49 patients (33.6%) underwent physical examination. At least 8 of the 47 patients (17.0%) with a complete injury and 29 of the 68 patients (42.6%) with an incomplete injury showed neurological improvement. The reported incidences of pressure wounds, recurrent urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and thromboembolic events were 22.5%, 13.5%, 5.6%, and 1.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Patients showed surprisingly good recovery considering the limited resources. Surgical treatment for spine injuries in Ethiopia is considered beneficial.

scholarly journals SPINAL CORD TRAUMA PATIENTS TREATED IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN PALMAS, BRAZIL

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 214-217
Author(s):  
Danilo Lopes Castro ◽  
Gustavo Fernandes Leobas ◽  
Maíse Santana Tolentino Marciano Araujo ◽  
Itágores Hoffman Lopes Sousa Coutinho ◽  
Márcio Antônio de Sousa Figueiredo
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Spinal Injury ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Epidemiological Profile

Objective:Traumatic spinal cord injury is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, mainly related to automobile accidents. It was decided to establish a clinical-epidemiological profile of spinal cord injury (SCI) in Palmas, Brazil.Method:Prospective study at the Public General Hospital of Palmas (HGPP), including all patients admitted in this hospital from January 2011 to February 2012.Results:They refer to 59 patients, of whom 81.4% were men and 47.4% of the victims had up to 40 years. The main mechanism of injury was motor vehicle accidents involving motorcycles. Clinically, the vertebral segment C4-C7 was the most damaged, and most patients were admitted with spinal injury and no neurological deficit (Frankel E).Conclusions:Primary involvement of young men in working age, trauma mainly due to car accidents that are usually associated with the use of alcoholic beverages. Patients admitted with more severe neurological deficits have evolved to milder impairments after conservative or surgical treatment.

Consequences of Delayed Surgical Treatment of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries: Tertiary Centre Experience

2021 ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Abdulrahman Alhabeeb
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Spinal Cord Injuries ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Motor Vehicle Accident ◽  
Spinal Injury ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Cord Injury

Introduction: Owing to its disabling consequences, spinal cord injury is devastating for both patients and their healthcare providers. There are many causes of spinal cord injury, the most common by far being motor vehicle accident (MVA). Unfortunately, in neglected injuries, many complications and poor outcomes could be encountered. This research aimed to assess the causes, consequences, and outcomes of neglected traumatic spinal cord injuries. Methodology: Out of the 750 cases reviewed between February 2016 and February 2021, 18 cases matched our inclusion criteria which was any Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (TSCI) with neurological deficit requiring surgical intervention more than 14 days from the index trauma. The following variables were measured: patients’ demographics, injury, management, delay, complication, and hospital course characteristics. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale scores were recorded at presentation and final follow-up. Result: Out of the 18 neglected TSCI patients, 72.2% were male. Patients’ mean age at the time of injury was 36.8 years, and 77.8% of them were from outside Riyadh. The mechanism of injury was MVA in all patients. Delay in referral to a tertiary hospital was the main cause accounting for 88.9%. The mean duration of neglect was 43 days. Improvement in ASIA score was found in two patients. Bedsores and DVT were found in 55.5% and 27.8%, respectively. Postoperatively, 77% of the patients were admitted to the ICU. Most patients (12) were unable to join a specialized spinal cord injury rehabilitation center postoperatively. Conclusion: Early referral of all traumatic spinal cord injury patients is highly encouraged to prevent short- and long-term complications.

Rehabilitation of the canine patient following spinal cord injury: a practical guide

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Cheryl Corral
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Spinal Injury ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Practical Guide ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Physical Therapies

This article forms part of a series exploring the rehabilitation of the canine shoulder, elbow, back, hip and stifle following injury or disease. Discussed here are different rehabilitation techniques used to address neurological deficits, pain and weakness following spinal injury, including physical therapies, electrotherapies and acupuncture.

Influence of severity and level of injury on the occurrence of complications during the subacute and chronic stage of traumatic spinal cord injury: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Charlotte Y. Adegeest ◽  
Jort A. N. van Gent ◽  
Janneke M. Stolwijk-Swüste ◽  
Marcel W. M. Post ◽  
William P. Vandertop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Spinal Injury ◽  
Chronic Phase ◽  
Autonomic Dysreflexia ◽  
Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Chronic Stage ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Meta Analyses

OBJECTIVE Secondary health conditions (SHCs) are long-term complications that frequently occur due to traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) and can negatively affect quality of life in this patient population. This study provides an overview of the associations between the severity and level of injury and the occurrence of SHCs in tSCI. METHODS A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Embase that retrieved 44 studies on the influence of severity and/or level of injury on the occurrence of SHCs in the subacute and chronic phase of tSCI (from 3 months after trauma). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. RESULTS In the majority of studies, patients with motor-complete tSCI (American Spinal Injury Association [ASIA] Impairment Scale [AIS] grade A or B) had a significantly increased occurrence of SHCs in comparison to patients with motor-incomplete tSCI (AIS grade C or D), such as respiratory and urogenital complications, musculoskeletal disorders, pressure ulcers, and autonomic dysreflexia. In contrast, an increased prevalence of pain was seen in patients with motor-incomplete injuries. In addition, higher rates of pulmonary infections, spasticity, and autonomic dysreflexia were observed in patients with tetraplegia. Patients with paraplegia more commonly suffered from hypertension, venous thromboembolism, and pain. CONCLUSIONS This review suggests that patients with a motor-complete tSCI have an increased risk of developing SHCs during the subacute and chronic stage of tSCI in comparison with patients with motor-incomplete tSCI. Future studies should examine whether systematic monitoring during rehabilitation and the subacute and chronic phase in patients with motor-complete tSCI could lead to early detection and potential prevention of SHCs in this population.

scholarly journals THORACOLUMBAR SPINAL ARTHRODESIS - EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COSTS

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-55
Author(s):  
TOBIAS LUDWIG DO NASCIMENTO ◽  
LUIZ PEDRO WILLIMANN ROGÉRIO ◽  
MARCELO MARTINS DOS REIS ◽  
LEANDRO PELEGRINI DE ALMEIDA ◽  
GUILHERME FINGER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Neurological Deficit ◽  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
Thoracolumbar Spine ◽  
Hospital Costs ◽  
Spine Fracture ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Fall From Height

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the epidemiology of patients with thoracolumbar spine fracture submitted to surgery at Hospital Cristo Redentor and the related costs. Methods: Prospective epidemiological study between July 2014 and August 2015 of patients with thoracolumbar spine fracture with indication of surgery. The variables analyzed were sex, age, cost of hospitalization, fractured levels, levels of arthrodesis, surgical site infection, UTI or BCP, spinal cord injury, etiology, length of stay, procedure time, and visual analog scale (VAS) . Results: Thirty-two patients were evaluated in the study period, with a mean age of 38.68 years. Male-female ratio was 4:1 and the most frequent causes were fall from height (46.87%) and traffic accidents (46.87%). The thoracolumbar transition was the most affected (40.62%), with L1 vertebra involved in 23.8% of the time. Neurological deficit was present in 40.62% of patients. Hospital stay had a median of 14 days and patients with neurological deficit were hospitalized for a longer period (p<0.001), with an increase in hospital costs (p= 0.015). The average cost of hospitalization was U$2,874.80. The presence of BCP increased the cost of hospitalization, and patients with spinal cord injury had more BCP (p= 0.014) . Conclusion: Public policies with an emphasis on reducing traffic accidents and falls can help reduce the incidence of these injuries and studies focusing on hospital costs and rehabilitation need to be conducted in Brazil to determinate the burden of spinal trauma and spinal cord injury.

scholarly journals Development of a Spinal Cord Injury Model Permissive to Study the Cardiovascular Effects of Rehabilitation Approaches Designed to Induce Neuroplasticity

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1006
Author(s):  
Liisa Wainman ◽  
Erin L. Erskine ◽  
Mehdi Ahmadian ◽  
Thomas Matthew Hanna ◽  
Christopher R. West
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Cardiovascular Effects ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Ventricular Contractility ◽  
Clinical Model ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Hemodynamic Function ◽  
Cervical Injuries

As primary medical care for spinal cord injury (SCI) has improved over the last decades there are more individuals living with neurologically incomplete (vs. complete) cervical injuries. For these individuals, a number of promising therapies are being actively researched in pre-clinical settings that seek to strengthen the remaining spinal pathways with a view to improve motor function. To date, few, if any, of these interventions have been tested for their effectiveness to improve autonomic and cardiovascular (CV) function. As a first step to testing such therapies, we aimed to develop a model that has sufficient sparing of descending sympathetic pathways for these interventions to target yet induces robust CV impairment. Twenty-six Wistar rats were assigned to SCI (n = 13) or naïve (n = 13) groups. Animals were injured at the T3 spinal segment with 300 kdyn of force. Fourteen days post-SCI, left ventricular (LV) and arterial catheterization was performed to assess in vivo cardiac and hemodynamic function. Spinal cord lesion characteristics along with sparing in catecholaminergic and serotonergic projections were determined via immunohistochemistry. SCI produced a decrease in mean arterial pressure of 17 ± 3 mmHg (p < 0.001) and left ventricular contractility (end-systolic elastance) of 0.7 ± 0.1 mmHg/µL (p < 0.001). Our novel SCI model produced significant decreases in cardiac and hemodynamic function while preserving 33 ± 9% of white matter at the injury epicenter, which we believe makes it a useful pre-clinical model of SCI to study rehabilitation approaches designed to induce neuroplasticity.

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