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Clinical and Injury-Related Factors Associated with In-Hospital Complications After Traumatic Spinal Injury: A 7-Year
Nizar Algarni1, Khalid Alrasheed2, Othman Alabdullah2
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|August 13, 2026
Summary
Traumatic spinal injury (TSI) patients with worse neurological severity, more non-spinal injuries, and cervical injury are at higher risk for in-hospital complications. Early risk stratification and multidisciplinary prevention are crucial for these patients.
Area of Science:
- Trauma Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Traumatic spinal injury (TSI) leads to significant morbidity.
- Factors influencing in-hospital complications after TSI require further definition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors associated with in-hospital complications in patients with traumatic spinal injury.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 413 TSI patients at a tertiary center.
- Multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine risk factors.
- Primary outcome: any documented in-hospital complication.
Main Results:
- 24.0% of TSI patients experienced in-hospital complications, most commonly pulmonary infection.
- Complications were linked to worse AIS grade, need for physical therapy, multiple non-spinal injuries, and cervical injury burden.
- Patients with complications had longer hospital/ICU stays and lower rates of discharge home.
Conclusions:
- Neurological severity, polytrauma, and cervical injury independently predict complications after TSI.
- Supports early risk stratification and targeted multidisciplinary prevention strategies.
- Study limitations include single-center design and predominantly young male cohort.
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