Mobilization of patients after spinal surgery for acute spinal cord injury

Study Design. A retrospective review was conducted covering records of patients who underwent spinal surgery after acute spinal cord injury. Objective. To study the relation between time of operation and mobilization of patients. Summary of Background Data. No such report has existed in the literature. Methods. Reviews were conducted for the medical records of 102 consecutive patients with acute spinal cord injury admitted to the National Spinal Injuries Center whose spines had been stabilized surgically. The surgeries had been performed either in the National Spinal Injuries Center or in hospitals of the United Kingdom or Continental Europe not specialized in comprehensive care of spinal cord injury. For the patients in three groups, the date of operation and the date of mobilization were compared. The causes for delay in mobilization were identified. Results. A trend of negative correlation was found between the mean number of days from injury to operation and the mean number of days from injury to mobilization. Conversely, a trend of positive correlation was found between the mean number of days from injury to admission or transfer to the National Spinal Injuries Center and the mean number of days from injury to mobilization. Long stay in bed was associated with complications. None of the patients in Group A stayed in bed longer than 77 days, whereas 13 patients in Groups B and C combined had a longer stay. The difference was statistically significant (P = 0.02, chi (2)). Eight of these patients had pressure sores. Conclusion. To ensure early mobilization, early spinal surgery must be supported by specialized comprehensive care.