Analysis of the factors influencing functional outcomes in patients with spinal cord injury.

[Purpose] The extent of functional independence ultimately achieved by an individual patient will be influenced by a variety of medical and non-medical factors. [Subjects and Methods] this study included 419 patients with spinal cord lesions treated in the Clinic for Rehabilitation "Dr M. Zotovic", Belgrade, Serbia, from January 2000 to December 2009. The patients were divided in two groups according to achievement of increase in Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score of more than 13 at discharge compared to admission. A variety of clinical variables were followed in both groups. [Results] one hundred twenty-one patients (28.9%) showed improvements in FIM score of ≤13, while 298 (71.1%) patients showed an increases in FIM score of >13 at discharge compared to admission. Better functional recovery was observed in patients with non-traumatic spinal cord lesions, lower neurological levels of the lesion (OR = 6.07), and in patients treated surgically, but the level of the spinal cord lesion was the most influential factor affecting outcome. [Conclusion] the patients with spinal cord lesions should not only be grouped by traumatic and non-traumatic lesions only, but also sub-categorized, according to the etiology, level of injury and treatment method.