Assessment of surgery, complications, and clinical outcomes in patients with traumatic spine

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the main causes of severe disability and mortality following trauma. Complications and outcomes of patients with spine trauma, especially those who undergo surgery, are a less divulged topic in Iran. Therefore, we designed the present study to evaluate complications and outcomes of patients with traumatic spine in Poursina hospital of Rasht. Material and methods: In the present cross-sectional study, we referred to registry of spinal cord injuries of Poursina Hospital, which is a referral center for trauma in Rasht in the north of Iran. We investigated records of all the patients with traumatic spine confirmed by CT scan or MRI during 2016-2018. Demographic data, types of SCI, types of surgical interventions, time from injury to surgery, number of fixed and fused vertebrae, complications, and outcome (based on GOS criteria) of the patients upon discharge. Results: In total, records of 274 patients with spine trauma were reviewed. The mean ± SD of age of the patients was 42.27 ± 16.83 years. There were 76 women (27.7%) and 198 males (72.3%). Surgical interventions were done for 148 patients (54%). The median of time of surgical interventions for displacement of the vertebrae and the median of time for removal of pressure from spinal cord in the patients were 5 hours (range= 82 hours). Median of duration of hospital stay was 2 days (range= 167 days). 2.2 percent of the patients experienced complications. Eighty-five percent of the patients showed good recovery according to GOS. Conclusion: The evidence from the present study indicates that approximately half of the patients with spine trauma underwent operation. Good recovery was seen in roughly four fifth of all of the patients with spine trauma. Most of the patients had no complications during their stay in the hospital.