Health Problems Besides Paralysis Faced By Spinal Cord Injury Patients
Topic: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Author: Loyola University Health System - Contact: lumc.edu
Published: 2017/02/16
Contents: Summary - Introduction - Main Item - Related Topics
Synopsis: Report reveals SCI patients also at risk for cardiovascular disease; pneumonia; blood clots; bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction; constipation; gastrointestinal problems; pressure ulcers; and chronic pain.
Introduction
Paralysis is just one of the many serious health problems faced by patients who suffer spinal cord injuries.
Main Item
Spinal cord patients also are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease; pneumonia; life-threatening blood clots; bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction; constipation and other gastrointestinal problems; pressure ulcers; and chronic pain, according to a report published in the journal Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports.
The article, "Systemic Complications of Spinal Cord Injury," is written by Loyola Medicine neurologists Rochelle Sweis, DO, and José Biller, MD. Dr. Sweis is an assistant professor and Dr. Biller is professor and chair in the department of neurology of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
As many as 94 percent of spinal cord patients suffer chronic pain.
"It typically occurs within the first year after injury but decreases in intensity and frequency with time," Drs. Sweis and Biller wrote. "It affects patients emotionally and interferes with activities of daily living."
The most common causes of spinal cord injuries are motor vehicle accidents (46 percent), falls (22 percent), violence (16 percent) and sports injuries (12 percent). Alcohol intoxication plays a role in 25 percent of all spinal cord injuries.
Eighty percent of spinal cord injuries occur in males aged 15 to 35. Fifty-three percent of spinal cord injury patients are left tetraplegic (partial or total paralysis of the arms, legs and torso) and 42 percent are left paraplegic (partial or total paralysis of the legs).
It costs between $320,000 and $985,000 to treat a spinal cord injury patient the first year and as much as $5 million during the patient's lifetime.
Mortality is highest during the first year after injury and among patients with more severe injuries. Life expectancy has not improved during the past 30 years.
The most common systemic complications following spinal cord injuries are pneumonia and other pulmonary problems. Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death. The degree of cardiovascular dysfunction is directly related to the severity of the injury.
Spinal cord patients are at risk for life threatening blood clots called deep vein thrombosis (usually in the legs) and pulmonary embolism (lungs). Deep vein thrombosis occurs in 47 to 90 percent and pulmonary embolism in 20 to 50 percent of spinal cord patients.
Pressure ulcers also are common. They can be avoided by position turns ever two hours, air mattresses and periodic weight shifting while sitting.
Life expectancy depends on the severity of the injury, where on the spine the injury occurs and age. Life expectancy after injury ranges from 1.5 years for a ventilator-dependent patient older than 60 to 52.6 years for a 20-year-old patient with preserved motor function.
Fatal complications of spinal cord injury include blood clots and sepsis due to pneumonia, urinary infections or pressure sores.
The good news is that among patients who are not completely paralyzed, 80 percent stand by 12 months and 50 percent walk out of the hospital by 12 months, with improvements continuing for two years after injury.
New treatments for spinal cord injury, including stem cells, gene therapy and electrical stimulation, are being studied. "The hope is that these options can some day restore some function for patients," Drs. Sweis and Biller wrote.
Explore Related Topics
1 - Spinal Cord's Memory Function Surpasses Previous Assumptions - New research demonstrates the autonomous learning and memory capabilities of spinal cord neurons, highlighting their independence from cerebral control.
2 - Paresthesia Symptoms Negatively Impact Spinal Surgery Satisfaction - Patients often not satisfied with treatment for myelopathy when they have severe residual paresthesia, even when function and quality of life are improved after surgery.
3 - New Discovery Could Lead to Improvements for Spinal Cord Injuries - New research offers important insights into how the immune system responds to spinal cord injuries, and why that response becomes blunted with the passing years.
4 - AZD1236 Investigational Drug Fosters Nerve Repair After Spinal Injury - Researchers show that a brain-penetrating candidate drug can foster regeneration of damaged nerves after spinal trauma.
5 - Cell Pores Discovery: Hope for Millions of Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Patients - Scientists discover new treatment to dramatically reduce swelling after brain and spinal cord injuries, offering hope to 75 million victims worldwide each year.
Page Information, Citing and Disclaimer
Disabled World is a comprehensive online resource that provides information and news related to disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility issues. Founded in 2004 our website covers a wide range of topics, including disability rights, healthcare, education, employment, and independent living, with the goal of supporting the disability community and their families.
Cite This Page (APA): Loyola University Health System. (2017, February 16). Health Problems Besides Paralysis Faced By Spinal Cord Injury Patients. Disabled World. Retrieved October 7, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/spinal/sci-problems.php
Permalink: <a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/spinal/sci-problems.php">Health Problems Besides Paralysis Faced By Spinal Cord Injury Patients</a>: Report reveals SCI patients also at risk for cardiovascular disease; pneumonia; blood clots; bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction; constipation; gastrointestinal problems; pressure ulcers; and chronic pain.
Disabled World provides general information only. Materials presented are never meant to substitute for qualified medical care. Any 3rd party offering or advertising does not constitute an endorsement.