@article{ref1,
title="Early Predictors of Mortality Following Spine Trauma: A Level 1 Australian Trauma Centre Study",
journal="Spine",
year="2013",
author="Tee, Jin W. and Chan, Patrick C. H. and Gruen, Russell L. and Fitzgerald, Mark C. B. and Liew, Susan M. and Cameron, Peter A. and Rosenfeld, Jeffrey V.",
volume="38",
number="2",
pages="169-177",
abstract="ABSTRACT: Study Design. Retrospective cohort study.Objective. To identify early independent mortality predictors following spine trauma.Summary of Background Data. Spine trauma consists of spinal cord and spine column injury. The ability to identify early (within 24 hours) risk factors predictive of mortality in spine trauma has the potential to reduce mortality and improve spine trauma management.Methods. Analysis was performed on 215 spine column and/or spinal cord injured patients from July 2008 to August 2011. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were applied to investigate the effects of the Injury Severity Score (ISS), age, mechanism of injury, blood sugar level, vital signs, brain trauma severity, morbidity prior to trauma, coagulation profile, neurological status, and spine injuries on the risk of in-hospital death.Results. Applying a multivariate logistic regression model, there were seven independent early predictive factors for mortality after spine injury. They were (1) ISS > 15 (OR = 3.67, P = 0.009), (2) abnormal coagulation profile (OR = 6; P = <0.0001), (3) patients ≥ 65 years (OR = 3.49; P = 0.007), (4) hypotension (OR = 2.9; P = 0.033), (5) tachycardia (OR = 4.04; P = 0.005), (6) hypoxia (OR = 2.9; P = 0.033) and (7) multiple comorbidities (OR = 3.49; P = 0.007). Severe TBI was also associated with mortality but was excluded from multivariate analysis, as there were no patients with this variable in the comparison group.Conclusion. Mortality predictors for spine trauma patients are similar to those for general trauma patients. Spine injury variables were shown not to be independent predictors of spine trauma mortality.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0362-2436",
doi="10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182634cbf",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182634cbf"
}