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Recovery after spinal cord infarcts: long-term outcome in 115 patients.


ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the long-term outcome of patients with spinal cord infarct (SCI) and identify prognostic predictors.

Methods

We reviewed 115 patients with SCI treated between 1990 and 2007. Severity of impairment was defined using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scoring. Functional outcome endpoints were ambulatory status, need for bladder catheterization, and pain.

Results

Mean age was 64 years; 72 (62.6%) patients were men. A total of 45% of infarcts were perioperative (69% aortic surgeries). A total of 68% reached maximal deficit within 1 hour (mean = 5 hours). Impairment at nadir was ASIA A 23%, B 26%, C 14%, and D 37%. A total of 75/93 (81%) patients studied with MRI had cord signal abnormality. At nadir, 81% required wheelchair, 86% required catheterization, and 32% had pain. At last follow-up (mean = 3 years), 23% had died. Among survivors, 42% required a wheelchair, 54% required catheterization, and 29% had pain upon last follow-up. Of 74 patients using a wheelchair at hospital dismissal, 41% were walking by final follow-up. Of 83 patients catheterized at dismissal, 33% were catheter-free at last follow-up. Older age (p < 0.0001), increased severity of impairment at nadir (p = 0.02), and peripheral vascular disease (p = 0.003) were independent risk factors for mortality. Severe impairment (ASIA A/B) at nadir predicted wheelchair use (p < 0.0001) and bladder catheterization (p < 0.0001) at last follow-up.

Conclusions

Gradual improvement in not uncommon after spinal cord infarction and it may continue long after hospital dismissal. While severe impairment at nadir is the strongest predictor of poor functional outcome, meaningful recovery is also possible in a substantial minority of these patients.

SUBMITTER: Robertson CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3466672 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Recovery after spinal cord infarcts: long-term outcome in 115 patients.

Robertson Carrie E CE   Brown Robert D RD   Wijdicks Eelco F M EF   Rabinstein Alejandro A AA  

Neurology 20111228 2


<h4>Objective</h4>To investigate the long-term outcome of patients with spinal cord infarct (SCI) and identify prognostic predictors.<h4>Methods</h4>We reviewed 115 patients with SCI treated between 1990 and 2007. Severity of impairment was defined using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scoring. Functional outcome endpoints were ambulatory status, need for bladder catheterization, and pain.<h4>Results</h4>Mean age was 64 years; 72 (62.6%) patients were men. A total of 45% of infarct  ...[more]

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