Initial factors predicting survival in patients with a spinal cord injury.

Abstract

A study is presented of a prospective analysis of survival rates in 157 patients with spinal cord injury consecutively admitted to the Pellegrin Hospital (University Hospital, Bordeaux, France). There was a 20% death rate, occurring in the first three months after injury. Three independent predictors of survival in patients with spinal cord injuries (age, initial conscious level and respiratory assistance) were found by analysis of the course of the disorder.