Fractures and musculoskeletal ailments in persons 20+ years after a traumatic spinal cord injury in Norway

TY - JOUR

T1 - Fractures and musculoskeletal ailments in persons 20+ years after a traumatic spinal cord injury in Norway

AU - Jakimovska, Vesna Miloshevska

AU - Kostovski, Emil

AU - Biering-Sørensen, Fin

AU - Lidal, Ingeborg Beate

PY - 2018/12

Y1 - 2018/12

N2 - Study design: Cross-sectional study.Objectives: To gain insights into fracture rate and musculoskeletal ailments among Norwegians with a spinal cord injury (SCI) acquired more than 20 years ago.Settings: Sunnaas Hospital, Nesoddtangen, Norway.Methods: 165 persons with SCI were interviewed in 2004-2005 by questionnaires and clinical examination. Descriptive statistics and a logistic regression analysis were performed to identify variables associated with bone fractures and musculoskeletal ailments.Results: Around half of the participants experienced a fracture after injury and excessive use of alcohol increased the odds (OR 0.09; CI 0.01-0.74) of suffering a post-injury fracture (p = 0.03). Sixty percent experienced shoulder ailments after the SCI and the use of orthosis to the knee and hip increased the odds (OR 4.4; CI 1.4-13) of experiencing shoulder ailment (p = 0.01).Conclusion: Around half of the 165 participants reported to have suffered a fracture and over 100 to experience musculoskeletal ailment 20 years after injury. We suggest that prevention strategies and symptom management must be embedded in follow-up visits after SCI.

AB - Study design: Cross-sectional study.Objectives: To gain insights into fracture rate and musculoskeletal ailments among Norwegians with a spinal cord injury (SCI) acquired more than 20 years ago.Settings: Sunnaas Hospital, Nesoddtangen, Norway.Methods: 165 persons with SCI were interviewed in 2004-2005 by questionnaires and clinical examination. Descriptive statistics and a logistic regression analysis were performed to identify variables associated with bone fractures and musculoskeletal ailments.Results: Around half of the participants experienced a fracture after injury and excessive use of alcohol increased the odds (OR 0.09; CI 0.01-0.74) of suffering a post-injury fracture (p = 0.03). Sixty percent experienced shoulder ailments after the SCI and the use of orthosis to the knee and hip increased the odds (OR 4.4; CI 1.4-13) of experiencing shoulder ailment (p = 0.01).Conclusion: Around half of the 165 participants reported to have suffered a fracture and over 100 to experience musculoskeletal ailment 20 years after injury. We suggest that prevention strategies and symptom management must be embedded in follow-up visits after SCI.

U2 - 10.1038/s41394-018-0102-7

DO - 10.1038/s41394-018-0102-7

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30131875

SN - 2058-6124

VL - 4

JO - Spinal cord series and cases

JF - Spinal cord series and cases

M1 - 76

ER -