Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine, 2013 · DOI: 10.1186/1757-7241-21-42 · Published: May 30, 2013
This study investigates how multiple injuries affect the recovery of patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI). It compares patients with SCI who have other injuries to those who only have the spinal cord injury. The researchers examined factors like functional status (ability to perform daily tasks) and neurological status (nerve function) at the time of admission to rehabilitation and at the time of discharge. The study found that while patients with multiple injuries initially seemed to have worse outcomes, these differences disappeared after considering the severity and type of spinal cord injury. This suggests that the spinal cord injury itself is the main factor influencing recovery, not the presence of other injuries.
Rehabilitation programs should primarily focus on the characteristics of the spinal cord injury (level and completeness) rather than being overly influenced by the presence of other injuries.
Healthcare resources can be allocated based on the severity of the spinal cord injury, as multiple injuries do not independently worsen the prognosis.
Patients with spinal cord injuries and multiple injuries can be reassured that their overall recovery potential is primarily determined by the spinal cord injury itself.