高齢者脊髄損傷の予後

抄録

Recent advances in rehabilitation process have resulted in shorter length of hospital stay and better functional ability for the spinal cord injured patients. The incidence of spinal cord injury in the elderly population is much higher in Japan when compared with other western countries. The mortality rate of the spinal cord injured patients aged 60 years and over is six times as high as that of the general elderly population. The leading causes of death in post injury period are pulmonary disorders and sepsis instead of urinary disorders that were prevalent in former decades. There have been many reports that the elderly patients have poorer prognosis than their younger counterparts. In order to reduce the mortality rate and to improve poor prognosis, we have to pay more attention to pulmonary disorders in the same way as we have done to urinary disorders. The discharge rate to nursing homes is several times as high for the elderly as compared with younger patients. We have to organize a comprehensive long life care system for the elderly group in the community.