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2025, Number 3

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Investigación en Discapacidad 2025; 11 (3)

Complications after spinal cord injury in a specialty hospital in Mexico

Merino-Orbegoso P, Mejía-Gutiérrez VV, Barrera-Ortiz A, Rodríguez BM, Quinzaños-Fresnedo J

Language: English
References: 24
Page: 94-100
PDF size: 825.63 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Introduction: there is a severe scarcity of data related to complications in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Latin America. Those complications are frequent causes of morbidity and mortality, leading to increased hospitalization rates, employability loss, and decreased quality of life. Objective: to describe the main complications that occur in people with SCI at the National Rehabilitation Institute (INR-LGII). Material and methods: an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive clinical study was carried out on patients attended at a tertiary-level hospital in Mexico City with SCI. Results: 1,284 individuals were studied, 54.51% of them had complications. The most common complications by frequency of occurrence were: pressure ulcers, spasticity, pain, respiratory complications, and infections. Regarding the degree of independence and life satisfaction, individuals with complications had a lower mean score in the following scales: the Spinal Cord Independence Measure version III (SCIM-III) and the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire-9 (LSAT-9). An association was found between having complications and traumatic etiology, a more severe injury and sex. Conclusions: this study is clinically relevant because complications after a SCI are frequent and impact individuals, their families, and the whole society. Moreover, knowledge about these complications may reinforce the security of the patient, diminish costs and design treatment strategies to avoid those complications.


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