Title: Comparison of Rehablitative Outcome of Posttraumatic Paraplegic Patients with Posterior Stabiliation and Non Operative Methods

Authors: N.Gowthaman, R.Neelakrishnan, V.K.Mohandoss Kurup

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i11.142

Abstract

Introduction: Paraplegia is one of the most important morbidity faced by people in the age group of 25-50 years due to trauma to spine. To make them live a near normal life must be the aim of rehabilitation. Considering the nature of injury and its operative outcome and its rehabilitation, many factors plays role in rehabilitation .In that posterior stabilization is also one. But due to few factors like age, family background etc all paraplegia patients can’t go for posterior stabilization.

Aim: To compare the rehabilitative outcome of posttraumatic paraplegic patients with posterior stabilization and non operative methods

Materials and Methods: The study was retrospective study done at RMMC&H from June 2015 to September 2017. All cases of paraplegia due to spinal trauma presented to our hospital were considered. Their rehabilitative outcome was analysed and outcome was compared between posterior stabilization and non operative methods

Results: 20 Post traumatic paraplegia patients who were rehabilitated in our setup were studied .Out of which 15 were stabilized with posterior fixation 5 were treated with non operative methods. The average gain in FIM score of patients with posterior stabilization was 35.38, where as in non operative group was 23.50. Major complications faced by paraplegic patients are Pressure ulcers, UTI which contribute 50% and 40% respectively early ambulation of group with posterior stabilization was seen.

Conclusion: Patients for whom posterior stabilization was done for spinal injuries were rehabilitated comfortably when compared to non operative patients, their rehabilitative outcome was exceptionally good comparing to non operative patients.

Keywords: Paraplegia, Posterior stabilization, Rehabilitation.

References

  1. Cripps RA, Lee BB, Wing P, Weerts E, Mackay J, Brown D.A global map for traumatic spinal cord injury epidemiology: towards a living data repository for injury prevention. Spinal Cord 2011; 49(4): 493–501
  2. Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar a, c Mohammad Kazem Sayyah b Hesam Akbari b Epidemiology of Traumatic SpinalCord Injury in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review Neuroepidemiology 2013;41:65–85
  3. Suraj Bajracharya, Mahipal Singh, Girish Kumar Singh, and Bikram Prasad Shrestha. Clinico-epidemiological study of spinal injuries in a predominantly rural population of eastern Nepal: A 10 years' analysis, IJO 2007 Oct Dec; 41(4): 286–289.
  4. Bravo P, Labarta C, Alcaraz M, Mendoza J, Verdu A. An assessment of factors affecting neurologic recovery after spinal cord injury with vertebral fracture. Paraplegia. 1996; 34:164-166.
  5. Pollard M, Apple D. Factors associated with improved neurologic outcomes in patients with incomplete tetraplegia. Spine. 2003;28:33-39
  6. Cifu D, Seel R, Kreutzer J, McKinley W. Age, outcome, and rehabilitation costs after paraplegia cause by traumatic injury of the thoracic spinal cord, conus medularis, and cauda equina. J Neurotrauma. 1999;16:805-815.
  7. Furlan J, Fehlings M. The impact of Age on Mortality, Impairment, and Disability among Adults with Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. J Neurotrauma. 2009;26:1707-1717.
  8. Kay E, Deutsch A, Wuermser L. Predicting Walking at Discharge From Inpatient Rehabilitation After a Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. Arch Phys Med Rehab. 2007;88:745-750.
  9. Sipski M, Jackson A, Gomez-Martin O, Estores I, Stein A. Effects of Gender on Neurologic and Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury. Arch Phys Med Rehab. 2004;85:1826-1836. Accessed December 12, 2012, 2012.
  10. Burns A, Ditunno J. Establishing Prognosis and Maximizing Functional Outcomes after Spinal Cord Injury. Spine. 2001;26:S137-S145.
  11. Miyashita T , Ataka H, Tanno T. Clinical results of posterior stabilization without decompression for thoracolumbar burst fractures: is decompression necessary? Neurosurg Rev. 2012 Jul; 35(3):44754; discussion 4545. doi: 10.1007/s 1014301103630. Epub 2011 Nov 12.
  12. Haisma JA, van der Woude LH, Stam HJ, et al. Complications following spinal cord injury: occurrence and risk factors in a longitudinal study during and after inpatient rehabilitation. J Rehabil Med. May 2007;39(5):393-398. 120
  13. Chen D, Apple DF, Jr., Hudson LM, Bode R. Medical complications during acute rehabilitation following spinal cord injury--current experience of the Model Systems. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. Nov 1999; 80(11):1397-1401.
  14. McKinley WO, Jackson AB, Cardenas DD, DeVivo MJ. Long-term medical complications after traumatic spinal cord injury: a regional model systems analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. Nov 1999;80(11):1402-1410.
  15. Hitzig SL, Tonack M, Campbell KA, et al. Secondary health complications in an aging Canadian spinal cord injury sample. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. Jul 2008; 87 (7): 545-555.
  16. Vidal J, Sarrias M An analysis of diverse factors concerned with development of pressure sores in spinal cord injury patients: May 1991;29(4); 261-267
  17. Aito S. Complications during the acute phase of traumatic spinal cord lesions. Spinal Cord. Nov 2003; 41(11):629-635.
  18. Dryden D, Saunders L, Rowe B, et al. Utilization of health services following spinal cord injury: a 6-year follow-up study. Spinal Cord. 2004; 42:513-525.
  19. Roland Thietje, M.H. Pouw, A.P. Schulz, B. Kienast & Sven Hirschfeld Mortality in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury: Descriptive analysis of 62 deceased subjects Pages 482-487 | Published online: 19 Jul 2013.

Corresponding Author

N.Gowthaman

Postgraduate in Orthopaedics, RMMC&H,

Annamalai University, Tamilnadu, India – 608002

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.