INCIDENCE OF SECONDARY COMPLICATIONS IN SPINAL-CORD INJURY

In order to document the incidence of secondary complications followin g spinal cord injury (SCI), data were collected from 348 patients with post-acute SCI. More than 95% of these patients reported at least one secondary problem, and more than half (58%) reported three or more. S tatistical analyses indicated that, in general, the number and severit y of complications varied with the time since injury. Obesity, pain, s pasticity, urinary tract infections, and pressure sores were common. I ssues of social integration were also identified. The results suggest that improvement is needed in practices related to prevention and foll ow-up.