Trends in the presentation and management of traumatic spinal cord lesions above T6: 20-Year experience in a tertiary-level hospital in Spain

This study examines how traumatic spinal cord injuries (ATSCI) above the T6 level have changed over 20 years in a Spanish hospital's ICU. It looks at who is getting these injuries, what causes them, and how this impacts the use of ICU resources, length of stay, and survival rates. The study found that patients with ATSCI above T6 admitted to the ICU are increasingly older, have more pre-existing health conditions, and are more likely to have been injured in a fall. Despite these changes, the length of time patients spend in the ICU has decreased, and mortality rates have not increased. These findings are important for planning healthcare resources, creating prevention strategies, and understanding the evolving needs of this specific patient population. They highlight the need to adapt treatment approaches to the changing demographics and injury patterns of people with ATSCI.

• 1
  The mean age of patients with ATSCI above T6 increased significantly over the 20-year period (49 vs. 51 vs. 57 years; P = 0.046), as did their Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI).
• 2
  Falls became the most frequent cause of injury, increasing from 30% to 47% over the study period.
• 3
  The length of stay in the ICU decreased significantly over the years (30 ± 19 vs. 22 ± 14 vs. 19 ± 13 days), despite the increasing age and comorbidity of patients.