Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury at a Tertiary Care Center in the...

Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is a devastating condition that may result to lifelong complications that affect patient outcome and quality of life. Because of the increasing incidence of TSCI, it is important to comprehend the extent of this condition in terms of demographics, mechanism, and degree of disability to raise awareness and develop strategies in approaching care for these patients. There is a lack of information regarding data on TSCI in Southeast Asia, especially in the Philippines. This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with TSCI in a tertiary care hospital in the Philippines.

This is a retrospective descriptive cohort study in individuals aged 18 years older who were admitted for TSCI in a Philippine tertiary care hospital between 2022 and 2023. Of 118 admitted patients, 100 patients were included in the study. The data were obtained from the review of patients' medical records. Demographics of TSCI, mechanism, presenting clinical characteristics, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade, radiographic findings, outcomes, and complications were analyzed.

A total of 100 patients with TSCI were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 43.4 ± 15.8 in years, with male patients being predominant, at 92%. The most common mechanism of injury was motor vehicular crash, at 68%, followed by fall, at 22%. Most patients, 38%, were graded AIS C, on admission. The most common level of injury was cervical, at 70%. The usual complications recorded were sacral ulcer 28%, and hospital-acquired pneumonia, 20%.

TSCI is common in young adult male patients with motor vehicular crash as the mechanism of injury. Most patients in the study had incomplete spinal cord injury (AIS C), with the cervical region as the most common level. The recorded mean length of hospital stay was 1-2 weeks. The most common co-occurring extra spinal injury was traumatic brain injury. At discharge, most developed sacral ulcer and hospital-acquired pneumonia, with stable neurologic status. A multicenter prospective data collection with a larger population and inclusion of more variables are necessary to formulate a regression model and establish the factors that improve the outcomes of TSCI.