Author/Authors :
Kawu, AA University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada - Abuja FCT Nigeria , Alimi, FM National Orthopaedic Hospita - Lagos Nigeria , Gbadegesin, AAS National Orthopaedic Hospita - Lagos Nigeria , Salami, AO National Orthopaedic Hospita - Lagos Nigeria , Adebule, TG National Orthopaedic Hospita - Lagos Nigeria , Olawepo, A Department of Anatomy - University of Ilorin - Ilorin Nigeria , Shamsi, H Department of Orthopaedics - Kastrubal Medical College - Manipal University, India
Abstract :
BACKGROUND: There have been many reports on the problems
of spinal cord injury (SCI) in Nigeria but few have reported on
the complications and causes of death in spinal cord injured
patients.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the
complications, causes of death and associated risk factors in
patients with SCI within six months post injury.
METHODS: Patients were retrospectively identified from the
hospital trauma database from January 1997 to December
2007. Complications and cause of death within the first six
months of SCI were determined along with associated risk
factors.
RESULTS: Five hundred and eighty-two patients were eligible
for analyses and data were obtained for 422 (72.5%) patients
with a mean age of 37.2 (±14.2) years at six months follow-up.
Muscle spasms 417 (98.8%) and neurogenic pain 382 (94.5%)
were the main complications noted. The mortality during the
review period was 144 (34.1%). Respiratory failure (44.4%)
was the commonest cause of death. The independent predictors
of mortality were mainly age, GCS<9, Frankel Type A at
presentation and cervical spine injury (CSI) and while CSI and
Frankel Type A injury were the main predictors of
complications.
CONCLUSION: Most common complication and cause of death
following SCI are muscle spasm and respiratory failure
respectively. The risk factors associated with mortality are
age, GCS<9, cervical spinal injury, and complete neurologic
injury and those for complications were cervical spinal
injury and Frankel Type A injury.
