The primary and secondary causes of hospitalizations during the first five years after spinal cord injury

Cohort study. Retrospective analysis of uniform billing discharge data (UB-04).

To compare and contrast the primary and secondary causes of hospitalization by type of admission, emergency department (ED) versus inpatient only (IP), during the first five years after the traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).

Academic Medical University in the Southeastern USA.

At total of 2569 adults with traumatic SCI were identified from a population-based registry and matched to billing data. The main outcome measures were primary and secondary diagnoses associated with hospital admissions in non-federal, state hospitals.

Overall, there were 9733 hospital admissions in the five years after SCI onset, not including the initial hospitalization; 53% were admissions through the ED. The primary causes of hospitalizations after SCI varied by year post injury and admission type (ED versus IP). The top 15 secondary diagnoses included several secondary health conditions associated with SCI, as well as chronic health conditions.

Rehabilitation diagnoses were much more prominent during the first year, compared with subsequent years. Septicemia was the leading cause of admissions through the ED, whereas chronic ulcers of the skin were prominent for IP only admissions. This is consistent with the acute nature of septicemia compared with more planned hospitalization for rehabilitation and skin ulcers. These conditions should be targeted for prevention strategies that include patient/family education and early and appropriate access to primary care.