Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

A Contusion Model of Severe Spinal Cord Injury in Rats
10:00

A Contusion Model of Severe Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Published on: August 17, 2013

31.0K

Causes of death after spinal cord injury in the Czech Republic

Jiri Kriz1, Kristyna Sediva2, Marek Maly3

  • 1Spinal Cord Unit, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic. jiri.kriz@fnmotol.cz.

Spinal Cord
|January 15, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Pneumonia and pulmonary embolism were leading causes of death in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients within one year. After one year, pneumonia and pressure injuries were most common, highlighting the need for preventive programs.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Research
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Spinal cord injury (SCI) significantly impacts patient mortality.
  • Understanding the leading causes of death in SCI patients is crucial for improving long-term outcomes.
  • Previous studies have indicated various causes of mortality in SCI populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the primary causes of death in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) admitted to a specialized unit.
  • To analyze mortality patterns in SCI patients over a 15-year period.
  • To identify specific causes of death within different timeframes post-SCI.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from 2004 to 2018.
  • Patient deaths were identified through health insurance databases.
  • Causes of death (ICD-10) were obtained, and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated for frequent causes.

Main Results:

  • Out of 990 SCI patients admitted, 183 (18.5%) died. Cancer-related SCI cases were excluded, leaving 148 deaths for analysis.
  • Leading causes of death overall were pneumonia, cardiac complications, pulmonary embolism, suicide, and urinary tract infection (UTI).
  • Early mortality (within 1 year) was dominated by pneumonia and pulmonary embolism (17.1% each). Late mortality (after 1 year) showed pneumonia (14%) and pressure injuries (12.1%) as primary causes. Significantly increased SMRs were observed for UTI, embolism, pneumonia, and suicide.

Conclusions:

  • Pressure injuries and suicides were identified as significant causes of mortality in the SCI cohort.
  • These findings underscore the importance of developing and implementing targeted preventive strategies.
  • Reducing mortality and enhancing life expectancy in SCI patients requires addressing these key causes of death.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Novel Vertebral Stabilization Method for Producing Contusive Spinal Cord Injury09:24

A Novel Vertebral Stabilization Method for Producing Contusive Spinal Cord Injury

Published on: January 5, 2015

18.0K
An In Vivo Duo-color Method for Imaging Vascular Dynamics Following Contusive Spinal Cord Injury09:25

An In Vivo Duo-color Method for Imaging Vascular Dynamics Following Contusive Spinal Cord Injury

Published on: December 31, 2017

9.7K

Related Concept Videos

The Spinal Cord01:54

The Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is the body’s major nerve tract of the central nervous system, communicating afferent sensory information from the periphery to the brain and efferent motor information from the brain to the body. The human spinal cord extends from the hole at the base of the skull, or foramen magnum, to the level of the first or second lumbar vertebra.
Spinal Cord01:26

Spinal Cord

The spinal cord, a critical component of the central nervous system, extends from the base of the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. It is essential for maintaining physical stability and facilitating communication between the brain and peripheral parts of the body.
Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology01:14

Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology

Spinal cord injury progresses through two interconnected phases: primary injury and secondary injury.Primary InjuryPrimary injury happens at the moment of trauma and involves immediate mechanical damage to the spinal cord.Compression happens when broken vertebrae, herniated discs, or accumulating blood (such as a hematoma) press directly against the spinal cord, distorting its normal shape and function. In cases of contusion, the cord is bruised by a blunt force (like penetrating injuries or...
Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology01:25

Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology

Early Ischemia and Ionic ImbalanceWithin minutes of spinal cord injury, a secondary cascade begins, progressing over hours to weeks. Vascular damage reduces blood flow, causing ischemia and mitochondrial dysfunction. ATP depletion leads to ion pump failure, membrane depolarization, sodium influx, potassium efflux, and water accumulation, resulting in cellular swelling. Increased intracellular calcium further disrupts mitochondria and accelerates cellular injury.Excitotoxicity and Neuronal...