@article{ref1,
title="Complications and mortality after acute traumatic spinal cord injury in Saint Petersburg, Russia",
journal="Spinal Cord",
year="2020",
author="Mirzaeva, Liudmila and Lobzin, Sergey and Tcinzerling, Natalya and Sarana, Andrey and Gilhus, Nils Erik and Rekand, Tiina",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. <br><br>OBJECTIVES: We studied complications during early rehabilitation and their relation to length of stay (LOS) in the hospital as well as to survival in people with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). SETTING: All specialized hospitals of Saint Petersburg. <br><br>METHODS: We analysed all charts of patients admitted with acute TSCI to the city hospitals, 2012-2016. Patient characteristics, complications, time and cause of death, and LOS were recorded. Mean values with standard deviations and t-tests were used. We analysed mortality rate using the Kaplan-Meier method and calculated relative risks (RRs). <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 311 patients with TSCI were included. Complications occurred in 34% of patients; most were respiratory complications and pressure ulcers. Complications occurred more often in those with concomitant traumatic brain injury (TBI) (RR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.2-1.8). All complications prolonged LOS (median, 11 days) and increased mortality in the acute phase (p < 0.001). In the early phase, 15% died, with a median time to death of 13 days. Respiratory complications markedly increased the death rate (RR = 18, 95% CI: 15-22). Mortality rate correlated also with age, TSCI severity and level, and concomitant TBI. Alcohol/drug consumption before TSCI increased the likelihood for complications (RR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.3-2.1) and mortality (RR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.6-3.1). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Focus on prevention as well as early and optimal treatment of complications, together with no or low alcohol/drug consumption may reduce mortality in the early phase after TSCI and at the same time shorten LOS.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1362-4393",
doi="10.1038/s41393-020-0458-y",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41393-020-0458-y"
}