Abstract
This paper retrospectively reviews 40 quadriplegics treated from 1997 to 2000. Hospital records, spinal unit records and telephonic interviews were used to obtain data on age, sex, mechanism of injury, levels involved, delay in admission, associated injuries, treatment, morbidity, mortality, rehabilitation time and placement on discharge. The mean age of the 36 men (89%) and four women (11%) was 36 years (18 to 66). The mechanism of injury in 34 of the patients (85%) was motor vehicle accidents. Five patients (13%) had sustained gunshot wounds and one patient had hit a wall (2%). The mean delay to admission was 5 days (0 to 42). Injuries were at C5/6 in 40% of the patients. Twenty-five patients (62.5%) were treated conservatively and 15 (37.5%) surgically. The 37.5% mortality rate was related to admission delay, associated injuries and patient age. Placement after discharge was problematic in 36% of the patients.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor M. B. E. Sweet. Correspondence should be addressed to him at PO Box 47363, Parklands, Johannesburg 2121, South Africa.
