Inpatient rehabilitation outcomes in neoplastic spinal cord compression vs. traumatic spinal cord injury

Frequency and Characteristics of Medical Complications in Rehabilitation Settings: A Scoping Review

“…A total of 47 studies were identified relating to complications ( 2 , 17 , 25 – 69 ). Studies were conducted across a variety of international healthcare settings, including North America ( n = 22) ( 17 , 27 , 31 , 33 , 36 – 38 , 40 , 42 , 44 – 46 , 50 , 51 , 54 , 59 , 60 , 62 – 66 ), Europe ( n = 9) ( 26 , 29 , 34 , 35 , 43 , 49 , 52 , 55 , 69 ), Asia ( n = 11) ( 28 , 41 , 47 , 48 , 53 , 56 – 58 , 61 , 67 , 68 ) and Oceania ( n = 5) ( 2 , 25 , 30 , 32 , 39 ). Study cohorts included general rehabilitation ( 2 , 25 , 44 , 47 , 51 , 56 , 60 , 65 ) and rehabilitation following: cerebrovascular accident (CVA) ( 17 , 26 , 28 , 30 , 35 , 36 , 38 , 52 ,…”

“…Marcassa et al ( 69 ) found that the rate of complications was higher in patients with diabetes ( p < 0.01), noting significant differences in the frequency of infectious complications ( p < 0.01), renal dysfunction ( p < 0.001), and heart failure ( p < 0.05). The study conducted by Ikbali Afsar et al ( 55 ) noted that urinary tract infections (UTI) and decubitus ulcers were more common in the traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) group compared with the neoplastic group ( p < 0.05). Similarly, McKinley et al ( 59 ) found that patients with TSCI were more likely to experience deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pressure injuries, pneumonia, orthostatic hypertension and spasticity ( p < 0.05) than the non-traumatic spinal injury group.…”

“…There was heterogeneity in the type and frequency of complications reported across the identified studies (Appendix S3) ( 17 , 26 – 29 , 31 , 32 , 34 – 36 , 38 , 39 , 47 , 48 , 51 – 53 , 55 , 57 – 59 , 61 , 63 , 68 , 69 ). Hospital-acquired complications were noted to occur throughout most studies and included venous thromboembolism, pressure injuries, adverse drug events and falls.…”

“…The most commonly reported complications were infections, and non-infectious neurological alterations. Infectious complications were identified in 26 studies, with UTIs, pneumonia and cellulitis reported as the most common ( 17 , 26 – 28 , 31 , 34 – 36 , 38 , 41 , 46 – 48 , 51 – 53 , 55 , 57 – 59 , 61 , 64 , 66 – 69 ). Six studies noted infection to have occurred in over half of the study population ( 26 , 51 , 53 , 55 , 59 , 68 ).…”

“…Infectious complications were identified in 26 studies, with UTIs, pneumonia and cellulitis reported as the most common ( 17 , 26 – 28 , 31 , 34 – 36 , 38 , 41 , 46 – 48 , 51 – 53 , 55 , 57 – 59 , 61 , 64 , 66 – 69 ). Six studies noted infection to have occurred in over half of the study population ( 26 , 51 , 53 , 55 , 59 , 68 ). Neurological alterations were reported in 20 studies, with a variety of complications reported, including alterations in cognition, challenging behaviours, hydrocephalus, stroke progression, epilepsy, seizure and seizure-like activity ( 17 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 34 – 36 , 43 , 46 , 47 , 51 , 52 , 57 , 59 , 61 , 64 , 67 – 69 ).…”