Age Influence on Functional Outcome of Patients With Sequelae of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between age and functional outcome in patients with sequelae of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (TSCI).

Material and Methods: Retrospective study, with a 88 patients sample that were admitted as inpatients in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) Department of Hospital de Braga, between the years 2007 and 2011, with sequelae of TSCI. Clinical files were consulted and two age groups (<65 and ≥ 65 years) were compared. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) was used to quantify the functional outcome by calculating the variation between the values at admission and discharge, in 68 of the 88 patients. For gait evaluation were used Modified Functional Ambulation Classification (MFAC) and the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI-II).

Results: There were 65(73,9%) patients with <65 years and 23(26,2%) were ≥ 65 years. The mean age was 50 years. Fall was the most prevalent cause of TSCI. Cervical injuries were more frequent, as well as incomplete lesions. The average hospital stay was 95 days. The mean MIF score was 66.32 points (<65 = 67.2, ≥ 65 = 63.38) at admission and 97.09 points (<65 = 100.89, ≥ 65 = 83.4) at discharge . The mean MIF variation was 30.19 points (<65 = 33.36, ≥ 65 = 19). The mean MFAC was 0.33 and 1.57 points, and the mean WISCI-II was 1,60 and 8,55 points, at admission and discharge, respectively. There was a statistically significant relationship between age at the time of the accident and the FIM variation.

Conclusions: In this sample there was a predominance of males and age at the time of the accident less than 65 years. There was an influence of age on functional outcome in patients with TSCI during hospitalization in a PRM Department, and patients aged ≥ 65 years showed a lower functional outcome, highlighting the importance of age on functional recovery after TCSI.