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Journal Article

Citation

Soon EL, Leong AZ, Chiew J, Kaliya-Perumal AK, Yu CS, Oh JY. Asian Spine J. 2019; ePub(ePub): 563-568.

Affiliation

Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Korean Society of Spine Surgery)

DOI

10.31616/asj.2018.0231

PMID

30866619

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective database analysis.

PURPOSE: To identify risk factors that predict mortality following acute spine fractures in geriatric patients of Singapore. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Acute geriatric spinal fractures contribute significantly to local healthcare costs and hospital admissions. However, geriatric mortality following acute spine fractures is scarcely assessed in the Asian population.

METHODS: Electronic records of 3,010 patients who presented to our hospital's emergency department and who were subsequently admitted during 2004-2015 with alleged history of traumatic spine fractures were retrospectively reviewed, and 613 patients (mean age, 85.7±4.5 years; range, 80-101 years; men, 108; women, 505) were shortlisted. Mortality rates were reviewed up to 1 year after admission and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors correlating with mortality.

RESULTS: Women were more susceptible to spine fractures (82.4%), with falls (77.8%) being the most common mechanism of injury. Mortality rates were 6.0%, 8.2%, and 10.4% at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. The most common causes of death at all 3 time points were pneumonia and ischemic heart disease. Based on the multivariate analysis at 1-year follow-up, elderly women had a lower mortality rate compared to men (p<0.001); mortality rates increased by 6.3% (p=0.024) for every 1-year increase in the patient's age; and patients with an American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score of A-C had a much higher mortality rate compared to those with an ASIA score of D-E (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: An older age at presentation, male sex, and an ASIA score of A-C were identified as independent factors predicting increased mortality among geriatric patients who sustained acute spine fractures. The study findings highlight at-risk groups for acute spine fractures, thereby providing an opportunity to develop strategies to increase the life expectancy of these patients.


Language: en

Keywords

Accidental falls; Mortality; Spinal cord injuries; Spinal fractures; Spinal injuries

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