Clinical complications in patients with severe cervical spinal trauma: a ten-year prospective study.

Objective: To determine the complications due to severe acrescentar sigla após o nome (CST).

Methods: Between 1997 and 2006, 217 patients (191 men and 26 women) were prospectively evaluated. The mean age was 36.75±1.06 years.

Results: Forty-five percent of the patients had medical complications. The most important risk factor was alcoholic beverage use. The most important associated injury was head trauma (HT). Patients with American Spine Injury Association (ASIA) A or B had a 2.3-fold greater relative risk of developing complications. Thirty-three patients (15.2%) died. Patients with neurological deficit had a 16.9-fold higher risk of death. There was no influence of age and time between trauma and surgery on the presence of complications.

Conclusions: Of the patients, 45% had clinical complications and 7.5% had associated injuries; pneumonia was the most important complication; patient age and time between trauma and surgery did not influence the development of medical complications; neurological status was the most important factor in determining morbidity and mortality.