Hospital readmissions in the first two years after initial rehabilitation for acute spinal cord injury

Abstract

A retrospective analysis of the incidence, length of stay (LOS), and reasons for rehospitalization in the first 2 years after discharge from an Australian spinal injuries unit was undertaken. Of the 68 participants, 31% were readmitted at least once. There were a total of 60 readmissions accounting for 598 bed days and with an average LOS of 10 days. Conditions related to spinal cord injury, such as pain, spinal surgery, and urological complications, accounted for 75% of readmissions and 81% of bed days. LOS data rather than counts of admission episodes may be more useful for designing community-based prevention programs.