Factors influencing prognosis of thoracolumbar spinal injury combined with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Objective To investigate the factors influencing prognosis in surgical treatment of thoracolumbar spinal injury combined with spinal cord injury so as to assist in the clinical treatment.Methods A retrospective study was made on 77 cases of acute thoracolumbar spinal injury combined with spinal cord injury admitted from July 2005 to April 2011.There were 66 men and 11 women,aged 14-66 years (mean,36.5 years).Neurological performance evaluated using American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale was grade A in 31 cases,grade B in 11 cases,grade C in 10 cases,and grade D in 25 cases.Potential factors affecting the prognosis of spinal cord injury were identified using univariate analysis and incorporated into the Logistic regression equation to filter out the main influencing factors.Results Fifteen cases dropped out at a mean 55.5-month follow-up (range,24-96 months) and follow-up rate was 81％.Univariate analysis selected fracture or dislocation types (P ＜ 0.01),combined injury (P ＜ 0.05),use of glucocorticoid within 8 hours postinjury (P ＜ 0.05),standard transport by medical professionals (P ＞ 0.1),complete injury (P ＜ 0.01),visiting time (P =0.055),cause of disease before operation (P ＜ 0.05) and canal encroachment rate (P ＜ 0.01) as predictors of neurologic recovery in spinal cord injury (P ＜ 0.1).Logistic regression analysis revealed significant prognostic factors were canal clearance (P ＜ 0.01) and use of steroids within 8 hours postinjury (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Glucocorticoid pulse therapy within 8 hours postinjury and adequate spinal cord decompression may effectively improve the neurologic prognosis in thoracolumbar spinal injury with spinal cord injury. Key words: Spinal injuries; Spinal cord injuries; Prognosis; Influence factors