Abstract

GARCIA GOMEZ, Alberto et al. Characterization of patients with Spinal Cord Injury. Rev Cub Med Mil [online]. 2013, vol.42, n.2, pp.201-209. ISSN 0138-6557.

Introduction: Spinal Cord Injury is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in young people. It produces a great impact on society and represents annual elevated costs in treatment services. Objective: to characterize patients with Spinal Cord Injury. Method: a retrospective descriptive study was performed in patients with spinal cord injury who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of "Dr. Carlos J. Finlay" Military Central Hospital from January 2005 to December 2010. The universe and sample were composed of 41 patients over 18 years of age who were admitted to hospital. Results: the male sex (85.4 %) and the age group 18-34 were the most affected ones (43.9 %). Traffic accidents and falls from high levels were the causes that reported most victims (78 %). The most frequent lesion was in the cervical region (85.4 %). The 53.7 % of patients presented associated lesions. It was necessary to ventilate the 68.3 % of patients upon arrival at the Intensive Care Unit. The direct and most frequent cause of death was the lesions of the upper nervous centres (30.5 %). The female sex presented a higher mortality rate (83 %) and the 88 % of all patients died. Conclusions: mortality in patients with Spinal Cord Injury who are admitted to Intensive Care Units is higher than the one which is reported internationally.

Keywords : spinal cord injury; aetiology; treatment; mortality.

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