Turkish Neurosurgery
Acute traumatic quadriplegia in adults: Predictors of acute in-hospital mortality
Khalid AlSaleh1, Drew Bednar2, Farroukhyar Forough3
1King Saud University, Orthopedic Sugery, Riyadh,
2McMaster University, Orthopedic Surgery, Hamilton,
3McMaster University, Surgery, Hamilton,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.16670-15.1
Aim:To assess the in-hospital mortality in adult patients suffering acute traumatic complete quadriplegia and determine the possible predictors of mortality in these patients.Material and Methods:A retrospective review of adult traumatic complete quadriplegia cases treated at our spine injuries unit from 1996 to 2004 was undertaken in the attempt to define risk factors for acute and subacute (within 3 months of injury) in-hospital mortalityResults:We identified 126 cases of cervical SCI treated at our hospital from January 1996 to March 2004 and identified only 62 cases of complete quadriplegia. Of 62 patients, 11 (17.7%) died in the hospital. Age, gender, injury mechanism and medical comorbidity showed only trends towards a higher mortality. Age and pre-injury medical comorbidity was found to be significant independent predicting factors for mortality. Gender, mechanism of injury, neurological level and injury severity score were not the predictors of mortality in these patientsConclusion:Advanced age and pre-existing medical comorbidity were significant predicting factors for mortality in the traumatic quadriplegia population
Corresponding author : Khalid AlSaleh