gms | German Medical Science

Background: Our center is one of the reference hospitals in Turkey for neurological rehabilitation. Therefore, we think that the results of our study will contribute to the data of patients with spinal cord injury in our country.

Aim: The aims of this study are to find out demographic datas, causes of injury, complications of patients with spinal cord injury who underwent physical medicine and rehabilitation program in our hospital. We think that our results will contribute to the patient data of our country with spinal cord injury.

Method: The files of 925 patients with spinal cord injury who received physical therapy and rehabilitation program at Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences between 01.01.2013 and 31.12.2017 were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic datas, etiology of injury, neurological level, length of stay and complications were recorded.

Results/findings: 70.3% of the patients were male. The mean age was 38.54±15.5 years. The age range of spinal cord injury was found to be 17–30 years (38.4%) in both sexes (p<0.05). 82.7% of patients had traumatic etiology. The most common traumatic causes were falling (45.4%); and the most common non-traumatic cause was degenerative changes (40%). The mean duration of hospitalization was 61.93±30.2 days. 43% of patients with spinal cord injury were in the AIS A group. Traumatic causes were mostly seen in each age groups and non-traumatic causes increased significantly in the 46–60 and 61–75 age groups (p<0.05). The most common complication was neurogenic bladder (90.2%).

Discussion and conclusions: Preventable causes constitutes the majority of the etiology of spinal cord injury in our country. Frequency of spinal cord injury can be reduced by improving education and awareness of people.