Demographic characteristics and functional outcomes in patients with traumatic and nontraumatic spinal cord injuries (original) (raw)

2012, Vojnosanitetski pregled

Background/Aim. Spinal cord injuries (SCI) could be associated with a significant functional impairment in the areas of mobility, self-care, bowel and bladder emptying and sexuality. The aim of this study was to compare demographic characteristics and functional outcomes of nontraumatic and traumatic spinal cord injury patients. Methods. This study was designed as retrospective case series study. A detailed medical history including sex, age, mode of trauma, and clinical and radiological examination was taken for all patients. Hospital records were used to classify the patients according to the following: mechanism of injury, neurological level of injury, functional outcomes, associated injuries, method of treatment, secondary complications and length of stay. The following clinical scores were measured in the patients: American Spinal Injury Association standards (CASTA), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and Modified Aschworth score (MAS). Results. Out of totally 441 patients...