The clinical significance of spinal cord injuries in patients older than 60 years of age.

Objectives: To study the causes and the rehabilitation outcome of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) in patients older than 60 years at the time of injury.

Material: Forty-four patients were included.

Methods: The American Spinal Injury Association Motor Impairment Scale on admission and at discharge and the Functional Independence Measure Motor subscale at discharge were calculated retrospectively according to the patient records. The causes of injury and treatment were obtained. The MRI-scans in patients with cervical injuries during the last 5 years were evaluated.

Results: Thirty-four patients (77%) were injured after falling from a height, 24 with cervical lesions. Thirty-five patients (80%) had incomplete lesions and they had the best outcome with regard to functional level. MR images of 15 patients with cervical lesions revealed preexisting cervical stenosis in 80%.

Conclusions: A high proportion of the patients had a cervical spinal stenosis and incomplete SCI; most of them regained good function.