An assessment of factors affecting neurological recovery after spinal cord injury with vertebral fracture

Abstract

In order to assess some of the variables associated with neurological recovery after traumatic spinal cord injury with vertebral fracture, a randomised sample of 100 patients (50 without neurological recovery, and 50 with several degrees of recovery) were selected out of 245 patients admitted to our hospital. Both groups were homogeneous with respect to time lapse to admission, hospitalization time and level of lesion. Of the variables considered, the intensity of the lesion (incomplete) and vertebral displacement (under 30%) were statistically associated with neurological recovery. An age under 30 years at the moment of the injury was also associated with neurological recovery but only in those patients with an incomplete lesion. No correlation was found between the other variables studied such as the degree of vertebral wedging, type of fracture (compression, flexion-rotation) and management (conservative, surgical) and the neurological evolution.