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Published on: March 3, 2014
Survival following spinal cord infarction
1Spinal Rehabilitation Unit, Caulfield Hospital, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. p.new@cgmc.org.au
Spinal Cord
|March 27, 2013
Summary
Patients with spinal cord infarction show fair survival rates post-rehabilitation. This study analyzed survival and causes of death in spinal cord infarction patients, finding no significant differences based on injury cause or patient demographics.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Spinal cord infarction is a rare but serious condition.
- Understanding long-term survival is crucial for patient management and prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the survival rates of patients diagnosed with spinal cord infarction.
- To compare causes of death among patients with varying mechanisms of ischemic injury.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective open cohort study design.
- Inclusion of consecutive admissions to a Spinal Rehabilitation Unit from 1995-2008.
- Utilized the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Victoria) for survival and cause of death data.
Main Results:
- 44 patients (59% male, median age 72) were included.
- 14 patients (33%) died during follow-up; median survival post-discharge was 46 months.
- No statistically significant differences in survival were found based on etiology, gender, age, injury level, or ASIA Impairment Scale grade.
Conclusions:
- Patients with spinal cord infarction demonstrate a reasonable survival rate after inpatient rehabilitation.
- The presence of vascular disease risk factors did not significantly impact survival outcomes in this cohort.
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