[Factors associated with functional improvement in patients with cervical spinal cord injuries].

To determine the factors influencing functional improvement of cervical spinal cord injuries during hospital admission. We performed a retrospective study of patients with an acute cervical spinal cord injury who had completed a rehabilitation programme in the Spinal Cord Injuries Unit of the Canary Islands between 2001 and 2018. To measure functional improvement, we administered the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM III) on admission and at discharge. Of the 141 patients in our sample, 88% were men. Worse functional results were observed in older patients, those with a history of alcohol consumption, complete lesions and those with more severe lesions on the ASIA scale. Factors significantly associated with functional improvement were the interval between injury and admission to the unit, length of hospital stay, and the interval between injury and hospital discharge. Older patients, as well as those with a history of alcohol intake, complete lesions and greater severity on the ASIA scale, had worse functional outcomes. In contrast, early admission was crucial to obtain better functional outcomes and was associated with shorter hospital stays.

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