A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY TO UNDERSTAND THE AGE, SEX (GENDER), AETIOLOGY OF SPINAL CORD INJURY, NEUROLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF SPINAL CORD INJURY (AS PER ASIA IMPAIRMENT SCALE), SITE OF PRESSURE ULCER, ULCER GRADING PATTERN (AS PER NPUAP GUIDELINES) IN PATIENTS OF SPINAL CORD INJURY WITH PRESSURE ULCER ATTENDING FOR REHABILITATION
Authors: Kumar De Saumen , Pongener Toshimenla 
Published: July 2021

Introduction: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an inherently serious condition that affects the expectancy and quality of life and exacts a heavy economic toll. Since there are currently no adequate restorative therapies, prevention remains the best approach. Thus, epidemiological studies of SCIs are essential to provide a basis for dening and implementing appropriate preventive measures. A nationwide study in the United States suggested that the incidence of SCI increased with increasing age, presumably due to an increase in the frequency of falls. Pressure ulcers in spinal cord injury represent a challenging problem for patients, their caregivers, and their physicians. The epidemiological characteristics of TSCI in Asia differ from those in other countries. A better understanding of groups at risk of SCI is needed to improve preventative strategies and management/healthcare services for patients with SCI. Our study is an attempt to understand the Age, Sex (Gender), Aetiology of Spinal Cord Injury, Neurological Classication of Spinal Cord Injury (As per Asia Impairment Scale), Site of Pressure Ulcer, Ulcer Grading Pattern (As per NPUAPGuidelines) in Patients of Spinal Cord Injury with Pressure Ulcer attending for Rehabilitation. Material and methods: ThisRetrospective Cohort Study was conducted in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGME & R) and SSKM Hospitals, Kolkata after getting Institutional ethical committee clearance and informed consent. Every patient was explained about the study. Relevant data regarding medical, personal history and demographics st st collected from the patients of spinal cord injury with pressure ulcer attended for rehabilitation, between 1 January 2018 to 31 June 2019 (18 months) were being used for analysis. Results: Data were summarised by routine descriptive statistics. Highest number of patients were found in the age group of 30-39 years (34.1%). Male preponderance was found. Fall from height being the commonest aetiology of spinal cord injury followed by Road trafc accident. Majority of the NLI was ASIAC. Majority of the pressure ulcer site was sacrum. Majority of the ulcer were Grade III as per NPUAPguidelines. Conclusion: Our study showed highest number of patients were found in the age group of 30-39 years (34.1%). Number of male patients was 33 (75%) and female patients was 11 (25%). Regarding ulcer grade (as per NPUAP guidelines), majority of the ulcer were of Grade III. So far as aetiology of SCI is concerned, most of the SCI occurred due to fall from height 54.54% patients, followed by Road Trafc Accident in 38.64% patients. Majority of the pressure ulcer site was sacrum, in 56.82% patients, followed by Trochanter, in 20.45% patients. While considering the Neurological Classication of Spinal Cord Injury (as per ASIAImpairment scale), our study population showed, majority of the NLI was ASIAC (43.18%), followed by ASIAB (34.09%). Different studies showed Asian epidemiology is different from that in other regions, and the same varies within country too. So, intervention measures must be established according to population-specic characteristics.