Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to evaluate the effects of early transfer of individuals with traumatic spinal cord injuries to a specialist spinal injury centre, focusing on the duration of hospital and intensive care stays, as well as the incidence of medical complications. SETTING: Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, UK. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients with traumatic SCI admitted over a 4-year period to our Regional Spinal Injury Centre were included in this study. A total of 104 patients were divided into 2 groups: those referred within 48 h (34 patients) and those referred later after the injury but within 2 months of injury (70 patients). There were no differences in the number of patients with tetraplegia or paraplegia or in the average age or sex between the two groups. there is no significant difference in the incidence of associated injuries between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Patients who were transferred early stayed less in the ICU than did those who were transferred late (9 and 25 days, respectively; p < 0.05). The percentage of patients requiring ICU stay was also significantly lower (from 41-9%; p < 0.001); 24% of patients in the early group had medical complications, while 45% of patients in the delayed group had these complications (p < 0.05). The average length of hospital stay ( ± SD), including rehabilitation, in the early admission group was 121 (86.9) days, while that in the delayed admission group was 188 (84.9) days (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Earlier admission of traumatic SCI patients to a spinal injury centre is associated with shorter acute care period, shorter total hospital stay and reduced preventable complications.